Section 1-11A.Media Coverage of Arraignments

Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026

In one sentenceGoverns how media may request and conduct electronic coverage of criminal arraignments in Connecticut, covering objection procedures, prohibited shots, equipment limits, camera placement, and pooling.

Full Text of Section 1-11A

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i)

(a) The broadcasting, televising, recording, or taking photographs by media in the courtroom during arraignments may be authorized by the judicial authority presiding over such arraignments in the manner set forth in this section, as implemented by the judicial authority.

(b) Any media representative desiring to broadcast, televise, record or photograph an arraignment shall send an email request for electronic coverage to a person designated by the chief court administrator to receive such requests. Said designee shall promptly transmit any such request to the administrative judge, presiding judge of criminal matters, arraignment judge, clerk and the supervising marshal. The administrative judge shall ensure that notice is provided to the state’s attorney and the attorney for the defendant or, where the defendant is unrepresented, to the defendant. Electronic coverage shall not be permitted until the state’s attorney and the attorney for the defendant, or the defendant if he or she has no attorney, have had an opportunity to object to the request on the record and the judicial authority has ruled on the objection. If a request for coverage is denied or is granted over the objection of any party, the judicial authority shall articulate orally or in writing the reasons for its decision on the request and such decision shall be final.

(1) any criminal defendant who has not been made subject to an order for electronic coverage and, to the extent practicable, any person other than court personnel or other participants in the arraignment for which electronic coverage is permitted;

(2) conferences involving the attorneys and the judicial authority at the bench or communications between the defendant and his or her attorney or other legal representative;

(3) close ups of documents of counsel, the clerk or the judicial authority;

(4) the defendant while exiting or entering the lockup;

(5) to the extent practicable, any restraints on the defendant;

(6) to the extent practicable, any judicial marshals or Department of Correction employees escorting the defendant while he or she is in the courtroom; and

(7) proceedings in cases transferred from juvenile court prior to a determination by the adult court that the matter was properly transferred.

(d) Only one (1) still camera, one (1) television camera and one (1) audio recording device, which do not produce a distracting sound or light, shall be employed to cover the arraignment, unless otherwise ordered by the judicial authority.

(e) The operator of any camera, television or audio recording equipment shall not employ any artificial lighting device to supplement the existing light in the courtroom.

(f) All personnel and equipment shall be situated in an unobtrusive manner within the courtroom. The location of any such equipment and personnel shall be determined by the judicial authority. The location of the camera, to the extent possible, shall provide access to optimum coverage. Once the judicial authority designates the position for a camera, the operator of the camera must remain in that position and not move about until the arraignment is completed.

(g) Videographers, photographers and equipment operators must conduct themselves in the courtroom quietly and discreetly, with due regard for the dignity of the courtroom.

(h) If there are multiple requests to broadcast, televise, record or photograph the same arraignment, the media representatives making such requests must make pooling arrangements among themselves, unless otherwise determined by the judicial authority. The judicial authority shall not mediate any disputes among the media regarding pooling arrangements.

(i) On camera reporting and interviews shall only be conducted outside of the courthouse.

End

Amendment History

(Adopted June 29, 2007, to take effect Jan. 1, 2008; amended June 20, 2011, to take effect Jan. 1, 2012; amended June 10, 2022, to take effect Jan. 1, 2023.)

Plain-English Summary

This section lets the judicial authority presiding over an arraignment authorize broadcasting, televising, recording, or photographing of that proceeding. A media representative who wants coverage must email a request to a person the chief court administrator designates for that purpose. That designee forwards the request to the administrative judge, the presiding judge of criminal matters, the arraignment judge, the clerk, and the supervising marshal, and the administrative judge ensures the state's attorney and the defendant's attorney (or the defendant, if unrepresented) get notice. Coverage can't proceed until those parties have had a chance to object on the record and the judicial authority has ruled. If a request is denied, or granted over an objection, the judicial authority must state the reasons for the decision, and that decision is final.

Several things stay off-limits regardless of what's authorized: any defendant not covered by the coverage order and, where practicable, anyone else besides court personnel and permitted participants; bench conferences and attorney-client communications; close-ups of documents belonging to counsel, the clerk, or the judicial authority; the defendant entering or exiting the lockup; restraints on the defendant, where practicable; marshals or Department of Correction employees escorting the defendant, where practicable; and proceedings involving a case transferred from juvenile court before the adult court has determined the transfer was proper.

Equipment is tightly limited: one still camera, one television camera, and one audio recorder, none producing distracting sound or light, unless the judicial authority orders otherwise. No supplemental artificial lighting is allowed. All personnel and equipment must stay unobtrusive, in a location the judicial authority sets, and a camera operator can't move from the assigned spot once the arraignment starts. Videographers and photographers must behave quietly and with regard for courtroom dignity.

When more than one media outlet wants to cover the same arraignment, they must arrange pooling among themselves — the judicial authority won't referee those disputes. And any on-camera reporting or interviews must happen outside the courthouse, not inside it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does media request permission to cover a Connecticut arraignment?

By emailing a request for electronic coverage to a person the chief court administrator designates, who then routes it to the administrative judge, arraignment judge, clerk, and supervising marshal for notice and possible objection.

Who can object to camera coverage of an arraignment?

The state’s attorney and the defendant’s attorney, or the defendant personally if unrepresented, may object on the record before the judicial authority rules on the request.

How much camera equipment is allowed at an arraignment?

Only one still camera, one television camera, and one audio recording device, none producing distracting sound or light, unless the judicial authority orders otherwise.

Can cameras show a defendant in restraints or being escorted by marshals?

No, to the extent practicable — the rule bars coverage of restraints on the defendant and of marshals or Department of Correction employees escorting the defendant in the courtroom.

Can reporters interview people inside the courthouse after an arraignment?

No. On-camera reporting and interviews are only allowed outside the courthouse.

Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 1-11A). Prescribed by the Judges of the Superior Court of Connecticut (Conn. Gen. Stat. Section 51-14). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 9, 2026. · Official source

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