Home > State/Circuit Guides > Rhode Island

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Detailed Guide: Rhode Island

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Allows Cameras? Yes
Exceptions: None

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Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? Yes
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? No

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The courts of Rhode Island permit extended media coverage in trial and appellate courts. The presiding judge has discretion to determine if a proceeding should exclude media coverage. Exclusion by the trial court may also be based on a party’s request for non-coverage. Coverage of juvenile, adoption, or any Family Court matters “in which juveniles are significant participants” is prohibited. Coverage of hearings which take place outside of the jury’s presence (e.g., hearings regarding a motion to suppress evidence) is not permitted. After the jury has been impaneled, individual jurors may be photographed with their consent. Where photographing of the jury is unavoidable, close-ups that clearly identify individual jurors are not permitted.

Only one television camera operated by one photographer are allowed in trial courts, and no more than two television cameras operated by one photographer each are allowed in appellate courts. The media must arrange for any pooling arrangements.

Courthouse rules require cell phones to be turned off and does not allow individual use of cell phones for photography and video recording. In addition, the courthouse rules prohibit photographic and audio-visual equipment of any type.

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Links: Authority
• Rhode Island Supreme Court Rules, Article VII – Media Coverage of Judicial Proceedings

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Links: Other
• Media Guide for Reporters: Rhode Island Judiciary
• Rhode Island Supreme Court Livestream
• Courthouse Etiquette

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Last edited: December 13, 2022