Family courtrooms across the country operate under a veil of secrecy, often excluding public oversight and transparency. This lack of accountability has led to significant concerns about judicial misconduct, procedural injustices, and decisions that may not align with the principles of fairness and equity. Implementing mandatory cameras in all family courtrooms is essential to ensuring transparency, preserving the integrity of judicial proceedings, and rebuilding public trust.
The closed nature of family courts shields judicial and procedural actions from public scrutiny, creating an environment prone to unchecked injustices. Families and individuals involved in family court often report concerns of favoritism, bias, or decisions lacking clear justification. Without a mandatory recording system, critical evidence of misconduct or procedural violations is frequently lost, preventing meaningful appeals or reviews.
Recording all family court proceedings ensures accountability for judges, attorneys, and other participants, fostering trust in judicial outcomes. Cameras safeguard against potential abuses of power and uphold the public’s right to observe judicial processes. Recorded proceedings offer an objective record that parties can use during appeals or post-judgment reviews.
Research shows that recording proceedings reduces instances of judicial misconduct by creating a record for review. Several states already allow cameras in courtrooms with positive results, demonstrating that transparency strengthens public confidence. The Sunshine in the Courtroom Act proposes granting federal judges the discretion to allow cameras, reflecting growing bipartisan support for increased courtroom transparency.
Audio-visual recording systems should be required in all family courtrooms. To protect privacy, limit live streaming to authorized personnel or litigants while providing public access to redacted recordings.
Mandatory cameras in family courtrooms are a crucial step toward eradicating secrecy and ensuring justice. This policy not only aligns with public demands for accountability but also strengthens the fairness of outcomes in emotionally and socially impactful cases.
My only comment is this should apply not just to family court but all courts in America should be recorded and posted to publicly viewable sites for transparency.
All cases involving minors or individuals subject to witness program protection will also be recorded but shall not be posted publicly. They shall be available for viewing by court ordered subpoena. These cases docket number, title, who viewed the recordings and a copy of the subpoena authorizing the viewing shall be maintained and posted to publicly viewable sites for transparency.
I agree, except I think cases involving minors (such as is almost always the case in family court) should still have cameras for other reasons and that any sensitive information should be redacted before being released to the public. Family courts are operating under a dangerous shroud of secrecy that has led to gross violation of the constitutional rights of parents and children all over this country. Of course, I’m sure there would be some exceptions to disclosure.
I’m wondering if you are involved in family court in a case involving an abusive (ex) spouse, because I’ve never spoken to a person who is who doesn’t agree with what I’m proposing. Most Americans cannot begin to understand what happens in these courtrooms. The parents who are involved in these cases want exposure. I appreciate your support of parents and children having an advocate, though.
I would agree to this with one stipulation. I think if both parties agree after the hearing is complete, the recording should be made private. If either party wants it to be publicly posted then it should be public. There’s no reason to throw people’s family drama in front of the world unless someone feels they’ve been treated unfairly. There are downsides and upsides to doing this and I think that’s the best compromise between them.
I agree that all trials of all types should always be recorded in such a way that they cannot be edited or deleted. However- access to those recordings should be carefully and securely managed. I would think at least two judges would be required to permit access under appropriate conditions.
its a legal preceding it should be treated like a document and especially when a young person is being at stake we should be all running to help and protect them there should be nothing hidden , if a crime has been done then it should be out there.
Courts of law are courts of record. There is no jury, there is not stenographer, and therefore these ADR’s are operating illegally not under article 3 of the constitution but under article one as administrative mediators that are violating your constitutional rights, your civil rights, and your rights of due process. Cameras in a court room would help, but truly the Family Court system needs to be abolished. it is completely corrupted by incompetent judges, and inexperienced attorneys who are using our children as guinea pigs so they can learn the law. The fact is, they are not learning the law effectively, they are learning how to abuse the law and frivolous litigation that drains the savings of every parent so they can pay attorney fees. The abuse of process is unconscionable.
I think the parties of the case should get copies. If you go to appeal and need the tapes to show the first trial was rigged, corrupt judges shouldn’t be able to repress the recordings.