Utah courts considering rule to restrict photographers.

Utah's court system is soliciting comment on new rules governing media in the courtroom. While some elements of rule 4-401 are good, such as allowing the media to copy the audio and video feeds from the courtroom, there is one poison-pill provision. It restricts photographers from taking pictures of documents that have not been introduced into evidence, as well as people the photographer should know are minors. The first part of the rule is a response to the Deseret Morning News' getting a one-in-a-million shot of a note polygamist leader Warren Jeffs tried to hand to a judge that said Jeffs did not consider himself a prophet of God. As media attorney Jeff Hunt points out, the rules are overly broad. Courtrooms practically bristle with documents, and how is a photographer supposed to know which ones are part of the record and which are not? Also, how could a photographer cover a trial of a 17-year-old defendant being tried as an adult? While he may be considered an adult for purposes of the trial, he is still a minor under the law. After giving Utah journalists one of the best shield rules in the nation, it would a disaster to have the Supreme Court approve this rule. Click here to read the rule, and here to weigh in.