The Press: Camera in Court

Colorado last week became the first state to overturn the widespread legal barrier against news photographers in the courtroom. After two weeks of hearings and demonstrations of new photographic equipment (TIME, Feb. 13), the state Supreme Court unanimously gave Colorado judges discretion to permit coverage not only by photographers but also by radio and TV. Special condition: no witness or juror “shall be photographed or have his testimony broadcast over his expressed objection.”

Within an hour of the court’s ruling the Denver Post asked a district judge to permit photographic coverage of the trial of a man charged with robbery. That afternoon the Post front-paged a general shot of the courtroom, and the Rocky Mountain News next morning ran a picture of the defendant on the stand.