Home > State/Circuit Guides > Illinois

---

Detailed Guide: Illinois

Choose another state/circuit

---

Allows Cameras? Yes (with permission)
Exceptions: Supreme Court Orders grant permission in some courts.

---

Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? Yes
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? Yes

---

View another guide

Select Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District Of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming ----- Federal First Circuit Second Circuit Third Circuit Fourth Circuit Fifth Circuit Sixth Circuit Seventh Circuit Eighth Circuit Ninth Circuit Tenth Circuit Eleventh Circuit D.C. Circuit Federal Circuit

---

- Compare/Sort Data
- Filter Data

Illinois Supreme Court Rule 44 generally allows media coverage of court proceedings in Illinois only by order of the Supreme Court, but photography and video are affirmatively allowed in certain situations outlined in 44(b). The rule states that court proceedings should be conducted with dignity and decorum and without distraction.  

The Supreme Court of Illinois upgraded its Extended Media Coverage Policy from temporary to permanent in 2016 and governs the media policy in each Illinois circuit court. Circuit courts apply for a court order from the Supreme Court of Illinois that affirmatively permits media recording and broadcasting in the courthouse specified in the order. 19 of the 23 circuits have orders generally permitting extended media coverage.  Under the Policy, the media, through a designated media coordinator, may request extended media coverage, defined as electronic camera and audio coverage. The trial judge and chief judge of a circuit court have authority to disallow coverage, and decisions to deny coverage cannot be appealed.  The request for coverage must occur 14 days before the proceedings; the judge has discretion to extend or reduce the time requirement.  If extended media coverage is granted, no more than two video cameras and two still photographers are allowed to cover any one proceeding.  The media is responsible for developing pooling agreements, and if an agreement cannot be reached, the court will deny coverage.  Camera placement in the courtroom is designated by the judge, and members of the media may not move about the courtroom or move equipment about the courtroom while the court is in session.

A witness has the opportunity to object to coverage, but the ultimate decision to allow or disallow coverage belongs to the judge.  An exception to this rule is in cases of sexual abuse: there will be no extended media coverage of a sexual abuse victim’s testimony unless the victim consents.  Likewise, victims of forcible felonies, police informants, undercover agents, and relocated witnesses may object to extended media coverage.  Extended media coverage is not allowed in trial courts for any juvenile, divorce, adoption, child custody, evidence suppression, trade secrets, or other legally private cases.  Similarly, extended coverage is not allowed during jury selection, and the media may not cover the jury or individual jurors.  
 
Each county in Illinois determines its own policy for personal  electronic devices in courtrooms.

---

Links: Authority
• Illinois Supreme Court Rule 44: Photography and Video in the Courtroom
• Policy for Extended Media Coverage in the Circuit Courts of lllinois

---

Links: Other
• Illinois Courts Media Guide
• Illinois Supreme Court Oral Argument Recordings
• Illinois Appellate Court Oral Argument Recordings

---

Last edited: December 12, 2022