CRJ3014 Criminal Justice and the Media

Running head: CELEBRITY TRIALS
Celebrity Trials
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CELEBRITY TRIALS 2
Live Television Coverage in Courtrooms
The issue about television live coverage of court proceedings has strong supporters and
critics. As several jurors and analysts have admitted, there are logical and considerate arguments
from both sides.
Pros
a) Right to get informed
The public has the right to know how justice is delivered on some cases that are of their
interest. This can only happen if court proceedings are aired live on television. Since we are in a
democratic world, the legal proceedings should be seen by everybody who wants to watch or
follow the case as it is. Judges have been criticized over judgments they deliver and it is fair that
citizens get to watch exactly how process is handled in courtrooms.
b) Increase more faith and trust in Judiciary
For some reasons, people have gave up and lost hope in the judicial system. That has led to
some cases being settled outside the courtroom than taking them to court with an expectation that
justice will be denied or delayed in favor of another party. However, when proceedings are
brought live on air through television, things become clearer and trust is restored in the judicial
system.

CELEBRITY TRIALS 3
Cons
a) Humiliating
Some embarrassing questions always erupt during the proceedings that also taint even the
innocent to prove a point. The videos from courtrooms always go round especially in social
media and that reminds the participants about the awkwardness. It is uncomfortable in cases such
as of rape or to the innocents framed as well.
b) Safeguarding Identity
With live coverage in the courtrooms, it is very difficult to protect the identity of the witness
or victims. In some cases, the victims or participants involved in different cases may face harsh
judgment of the community in a negative way.
Routine televised live coverage of courtroom proceedings influences the accomplices as
well as the jurors. Live coverage encourages fairness as there will be no room to give the verdict
based on what has not been argued out by the participants (Herz, 2016). Witnesses may also fail
to turn up for fear of their lives. This is because their identity cannot be hidden. The conduct of
attorneys in live televised proceedings is more recommendable; this is because they have to
consider all reliable evidence to decide as compared to a fictional courtroom proceedings.
Does being a celebrity make a defendant more or less likely to receive a fair trial due
to the media attention and publicity? Why or why not? Should there be more information
safeguards and security for defendants who are in the public eye?
Being a celebrity may affect the case an individual during the trial. For example; Nomi
Campbell a supermodel pleaded guilty in assaulting her maid but was allowed to cop to a