In January 2012 the Illinois Supreme Court announced a policy
which would allow news cameras and electronic news recording equipment in
Illinois courtrooms as part of a pilot project. This effort was viewed by the Supreme
Court as a positive step towards increasing transparency and accountability in
the court system. Before cameras could be let into a courtroom, however, several
conditions had to be met, including permission from the judges involved and
approval by the Illinois Supreme Court.
All fifteen Lake County circuit judges voted to support the pilot
project and approval was granted in January 2013.
On March 18, Judge Daniel Shanes of the 19th
Judicial Circuit Court will return to Wildwood Presbyterian Church’s Tuesday
Evening Lecture Series to discuss his thoughts on this issue after a year of
implementation. He will also address
other issues impacting judges and the workings of the courtroom today,
including mandatory sentencing parameters and the plea negotiation
process/realities.
All lectures in this series are free and open to the
public. Free-will donations in support of
the series are always welcome and appreciated.
