To wonder why? Court Appearances

[PassingStranger]

Do you think they will ever put live court cases as they happen on TV etc or for you to stream.
What's the reason they don't?
At the moment you have to go into the public gallery if you want to watch or read about it in the paper?

There's a whole TV channel called Court TV!

I’m pretty sure they’ve televised a case in Scotland fairly recently. I’m sure I haven’t imagined it and it wasn’t a re-enactment. It was a documentary about a murder case. Does anyone else remember this? Definitely within the last year. And wasn’t there another case about a couple of ‘carers’ who had taken over care for their friend’s adult daughter, Margaret, after her father died? She disappeared and they went down to London to send themselves a letter from her, claiming she’d become a gangmaster for an ocg, which was utterly ridiculous considering the extent of her SEN. That was partly televised too.

I’m not convinced it’s a good idea. It sensationalises it a bit. It’s very interesting to see the process but I’m not sure it should become entertainment.

I can't think of anything worse. If you're a victim of a crime, there's a reassurance that the whole world can't tune in to watch which enables being candid. If you're a defendant, on trial and innocent it would be awful having the world know what you look like.

I’ve been in the US when various high profile cases were being shown and it was awful.
They'd dig into the private lives of all the people involved. I remember this one show Nancy Grace was like a gossip show discussing it all. It really was trial by media. One woman was found not guilty in a case I ended up watching and I was shocked because if the jury had seen these shows they could have easily been persuaded.

It’s bad enough with stuff being all over social media. Remember the Nichola Bulley case!

Because it's not a reality TV show?

They are real people with real lives, who probably wouldn't want the worst moment of their life being broadcasted to the entire world to entertain bored couch potatoes.

It was called The Push and was filmed in Edinburgh High Court.

Cameras can be quite disruptive in a court setting. I don't believe courts want to be seen as entertainment and there is a more formal atmosphere in UK courts than USA.

I think high profile cases as the one above is ok but regular filming in court for entertainment purposes is not something I think should happen

Other than the Supreme Court, it is not legal to broadcast court cases for England and Wales.

The law is different in Scotland, and it can be done there.

Live court is nothing like in a TV show or film - it can be very slow, lots of pauses for various reason. Oh, and no Judges bang a gavel either

Some cases are streamed, but not criminal/family court ones. I remember watching the hearings about the lad who attempted suicide, and his family were fighting to keep him on life support.

I have watched local court cases (in the public gallery). I am not sure they should ever be streamed. I mean, the rules about seeing them in person are strict. I don't think it should be seen as a form of entertainment where people kick back with a glass of wine and some crisps and watch it on TV. For one, it would be awful for the victim of crimes giving statements.

It's bad enough being a juror on a serious case, awful photos etc.
Hours every day listening to stuff a majority of people without the relevant medical degrees won't understand.
Some of it was mind numbing if I'm honest.
So , no thank you, I would rather not.

As someone who is the victim of a serious crime currently waiting for a trial date, I would not go to court or give my evidence if it was going to be televised. I am frightened and the whole process has been traumatic. I dont want that to be entertainment for other people

There's been a couple of documentary's following Scottish cases - The Push on Channel 4 (the trial for Fawzayah who was murdered in Edinburgh) and three on the BBC including the trial of those who killed Margaret Flemming (the lady who a PP mentioned). They obviously didn't show the jury and some witnesses didn't have their faces shown. I found it interesting to see what goes on in court and sobering seeing the affect on family and friends of the victims.

If I had to give evidence, I'd want to know who was watching / listening in court. I wouldn't want my tragedy to be aired for the world to see

There's plenty of fictional dramas out there if you're interested in the process. It's not entertainment to watch real life tragedy playing out.

I mean more the high profile ones.

I've been on a jury and you spend a lot of time not in the court room because the judge and legal teams are discussing a point of law or because the defendant or a witness hasn't arrived at court yet. I think watching a live stream that cuts out every time there's a break in proceedings would be very dull, assuming anyone would ever agree to it happening.

I believe the sentencing of very high profile cases are now televised.

Justice isn't - and should never be!! - entertainment.

God that would be voyeurism at its absolute worst.

UK trials are not televised and that’s how it should be, to protect bereaved families and witnesses. The judges remarks and sentences are now televised though, for high profile cases.

UK doesn’t see the trial process as “entertainment”.

Saying that, there are a few UK trials I have followed that I would like to see played out in Court. I expect there will be docufilms - when appropriate, with the consent of the families.

The ones I've seen from the Scottish courts were done with the consent and contributions of the victims family, which I think is extremely important. They also weren't at all sensationalised and were sensitively done. I'd feel less daunted now if I had to give evidence as I understand the process a little and it (at least appears) a lot less adversarial then dramas have you believe. I also feel the programmes gave a voice to the victims and their families and allowed them to be seen as a person rather than just a victim.

@Zola1 , you poor soul, I hope it goes well for you. 💐💐🍷

I watched the Scottish ones and all of Oscar Pistorius trial.

Not entertaining but really interesting. But I think a lot of people would find them really quite boring. Real life is nothing like TV dramas.

Agreed, hope it goes well Zola and you have some good support around you.

Daily Fail not prurient enough for you OP?
may be it's time to get a life.