Friday 1 August 2003

In camera

Someone may be sent to jail for using a mobile telephone to record and transmit proceedings in the Perth Sheriff Court:
Sheriff James Tierney said the incident raised serious issues for the future conducting of cases within the Scottish legal system, and has cited the alleged culprit to appear after footage of a friend was recorded while she was appearing on motoring charges.

I fully understand why order has to be maintained in a court but why exactly is permission to film proceedings only granted "in exceptional circumstances?" There seems to be an unnecessary degree of protectionism going on here. If newspaper journalists are allowed into courts, why not cameras?