YourVoice.Now Summary
Transparency & AccountabilityCivil LibertiesFederal judges could let cameras into their courtrooms, including the Supreme Court — jurors would stay off camera.
Transparency & Accountability
Judges in federal appeals courts, trial courts, and the Supreme Court could allow photos, recordings, and live broadcasts of hearings they run. Each judge decides for their own courtroom, and must say no if coverage would deny a party a fair hearing.
Trial courts' power would shut off three years after the bill became law unless Congress passed it again. Appeals courts and the Supreme Court would keep the power with no end date.
Civil Liberties
A witness who is not a party could require the court to disguise their face and voice so viewers cannot recognize them. This applies in trial courts, and the judge would have to tell each such witness about the right.
No juror could be filmed or broadcast at any point, and neither could the process of picking the jury. The bill lists no exception to this limit.
The Judicial Conference, which sets policy for the federal courts, would have six months to write binding rules for hiding at-risk witnesses — crime victims, minors, cooperating witnesses, and undercover officers. Trial courts could not allow cameras until those rules are out.
The right to demand a disguise goes to witnesses only, not to the people whose case it is. A judge could still hide someone's face and voice for good cause, such as a safety threat or an ongoing investigation.
Someone who objects to a judge's camera ruling could not take that one question to a higher court right away. They would have to wait until the case is over to raise it.
More about this bill
You could watch federal court hearings on video, including arguments at the Supreme Court. Each judge would choose whether to let cameras into their own courtroom. A judge would have to say no if filming would deny a party a fair hearing. Jurors could never be filmed, and neither could jury selection. Witnesses who are not parties could ask to have their face and voice hidden. Judges would have to tell them about that right. The people whose case it is could not make that request. Within six months, the courts' rule-making body would have to write rules that shield crime victims, minors, and undercover officers. Trial courts could not start filming until those rules exist. Their power to allow cameras would then end after three years unless Congress renewed it. For appeals courts, it would not end.
Congressional Summary
Sunshine in the Courtroom Act of 2025This bill establishes a framework to allow federal court proceedings—in district courts, in circuit courts, and at the Supreme Court—to be photographed, recorded, broadcast, or televised. Specifically, it authorizes the presiding judge to permit media coverage of court proceedings, subject to requirements and limitations.
Legislative Subjects
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- Senate
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Reported to Senate
- Action Date
- 2026-06-23
- Date Added
- 2026-07-11
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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