Should cameras be allowed in the courtroom?

Although the trial date of Oct. 2 for Idaho 4 defendant Bryan Kohberger is off, there will be a trial.

One of the big points of contention has been whether or not to allow cameras in the courtroom.

On the one hand, you have some saying cameras in the courtroom are not only a distraction, but they also can prejudice some as to their views on the defendant. It is inevitable when cameras are in the courtroom that they are going to often focus on the defendant and his counsel.

On the flip side of the coin, you can argue cameras are good for a number of reasons.

Among them:

• Educational to the public – Having cameras in the courtroom can prove to be educational to the public. How many of us can really call ourselves experts when it comes to the judicial process? While I have some knowledge of how things work in the courtroom, I would not call myself an expert by any means. Even with 34 years in the field of journalism and having covered some courtroom events, I’d not label myself an expert in how it all works. As such, I think allowing the public to see how a trial works can be beneficial now and later down the road.
• More likely to have transparency – While I would by no means label myself a conspiracy theorist, I do have my doubts at times how our government in general goes about doing things. That can also trickle down to the state and local governing bodies. I think to take away even a hint of doubt in if things are on the up-and-up, having cameras in the courtroom can lessen and even remove those who may say the trial is rigged to one degree or another.
• Taxpayer dollars at work – Finally, who do you think pays the salaries of many of the people in the courtroom, the governing bodies involved etc. and makes it so they can go to work in the first place in that facility? Yes, we the taxpayers. I feel it is important that we get to see our tax dollars at work.

There are definitely arguments for and against cameras in the courtroom.

If it were up to me, EVERY trial deserving such coverage would be available to the public to view live, not via a media pool, sketch artists etc.

So, do you want cameras in the courtroom when Kohberger goes to trial or are you fine without them there?