Pike County Common Pleas Judge Randy Deering issued an order on July 1, 2022 pertaining to media coverage in the George Washington Wagner IV murder trial, slated to begin Aug. 29 with the seating of the jury. It outlines what he will allow and not allow inside his courtroom — and on the entire floor where his courtroom is located.
Read the order here:
These orders are of the utmost importance in covering any trial, but certainly a high-profile one. Journalists (and all members of the public, really) must adhere to these courtroom rules. Judges determine what will be allowed and won't be allowed, while following state law and legal considerations usually set forth by the state's supreme court, for their courtrooms. In Ohio, the Rules of Superintendence govern how judges conduct themselves, the cases before them and their courtroom. Rule 12 outlines the conditions for broadcasting and photography during court proceedings.
Not all states allow video or still cameras in courtrooms. It is ALWAYS best to find this out before you start to cover a trial, so you know the rules. In many states, reporters are allowed to use their phones and/or laptops to take notes, live Tweet and/or take photographs. But reporters should always be mindful to be respectful when doing so (judges tend to frown on loud typing just like they do gum chewing!).
Several important parts of Deering's ruling include:
No electronic devices in his courtroom -- or even on the second floor of the courthouse.
The media has to decide who is recording and when.
Jury identities are not to be disclosed - including their photos.
No interviews are allowed to occur in the courthouse.
One more important note:
Please also remember the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics when reporting, notably to minimize harm. Courts are filled with the human drama of many people's worst days. Respect victims and/or the relatives of everyone involved. These days will mean they will relive the horrific days that forever changed their lives in way we, as journalists, will never be able to comprehend. Think: How would you wish to be treated if the tables were turned?
Important terms to know:
Voir dire: A French term refers to the process of asking potential jurors questions before they serve on a jury.
Pooling: This refers to one media sharing their video/photos with all the media.
Questions for students:
Why might you want to familiarize yourself with this rule?
What would your first step be after reading this order?
What questions do you have after reading the order?
Class: Please leave your answers/questions below for follow-up.
Why might you want to familiarize yourself with this rule?
I think it's important to be familiar with this rule so you can act in a professional manner in the courtroom and won't do anything to jeopardize getting all the necessary facts. It's important in any career to be respected and taken seriously, and failing to follow this rule in the courtroom could lead to forming a bad reputation. If a journalist did something like bring an electronic device into the courtroom and got thrown out, they would miss a whole day of the trial. Missing those crucial facts could be detrimental to that journalist's story and overall understanding of the case. Finally, I think it's important to familiarize yourself…
I think familiarizing ourselves with this rule is the respectful thing to do. As journalists, we need to honor the judicial system and its rules so that the trial remains fair. Our job is just to report the facts and I would not want to interfere with anything going wrong in the trial especially since it is affecting real people's lives.
My first step would be to write down all of the rules because that would help me keep track of what I can and can't do, plus I have a bad memory so I would not want to interfere with the trial by accident. Next, I would figure out what I will need to report effectively. I would try…
Lexie Worden
1. I think that Rule 12 is an important guideline to familiarize yourself with, especially as a journalist, because it is important to have a fair trail. Having a fair trial would mean that there is no impartiality. There is no bias toward the defendant or any other individual in the courtroom. In the circumstances of a high profile case (such as this one), the media can play a huge role. It can help or hinder the situation and it can change the trajectory of someone's life. Familiarizing yourself with the specific rules you are supposed to follow in the courtroom means that you will minimize harm (which is what you should want to do as a journalist).…
you want to familiarize yourself so that you can still report the trial but do it correctly and the way the court allows.
My first step would be to get a notebook and pens because it looks likeI will be reporting and taking notes that way only.
Can you do interviews outside of the courthouse/ how far do you have to be in order to interview somebody about the case.