(a) Except as authorized by Section 1-11A regarding media coverage of arraignments, the broadcasting, televising, recording or photographing by media of criminal proceedings and trials in the Superior Court shall be allowed except as hereinafter precluded or limited and subject to the limitations set forth in Section 1-10B.
Section 1-11C.Media Coverage of Criminal Proceedings
Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceSets the standards and procedures for broadcasting, recording, or photographing criminal proceedings and trials in Connecticut Superior Court, including objection procedures, camera and personnel limits, and a narrow exception for sexual-assault homicide cases.
Full Text of Section 1-11C
(b) Except as provided in subsection (q) of this section, no broadcasting, televising, recording or photographing of trials or proceedings involving sexual offense charges shall be permitted.
(c) As used in this rule, the word ‘‘trial’’ in jury cases shall mean proceedings taking place after the jury has been sworn and in nonjury proceedings commencing with the swearing in of the first witness. ‘‘Criminal proceeding’’ shall mean any hearing or testimony, or any portion thereof, in open court and on the record except an arraignment subject to Section 1-11A.
(d) Unless good cause is shown, any media or pool representative seeking to broadcast, televise, record or photograph a criminal proceeding or trial shall, at least three days prior to the commencement of the proceeding or trial, send an email request for media coverage to a person designated by the chief court administrator to receive such requests. The designee shall inform the administrative judge, presiding judge of criminal matters, judicial authority who will hear the proceeding or who will preside over the trial, clerk, and the supervising marshal of the request, and the judicial authority shall allow such coverage except as otherwise provided.
(e) Any party, attorney, witness or other interested person may object in advance of electronic coverage of a criminal proceeding or trial if there exists a substantial reason to believe that such coverage will undermine the legal rights of a party or will significantly compromise the safety of a witness or other person or impact significant privacy concerns. In the event that the media request camera coverage and, to the extent practicable, notice that an objection to the electronic coverage has been filed, the date, time and location of the hearing on such objection shall be posted on the Judicial Branch website. Any person, including the media, whose rights are at issue in considering whether to allow electronic coverage of the proceeding or trial, may participate in the hearing to determine whether to limit or preclude such coverage. When such objection is filed by any party, attorney, witness or other interested person, the burden of proving that electronic coverage of the criminal proceeding or trial should be limited or precluded shall be on the person who filed the objection.
(f) The judicial authority, in deciding whether to limit or preclude electronic coverage of a criminal proceeding or trial, shall consider all rights at issue and shall limit or preclude such coverage only if there exists a compelling reason to do so, there are no reasonable alternatives to such limitation or preclusion, and such limitation or preclusion is no broader than necessary to protect the compelling interest at issue.
(g) If the judicial authority has a substantial reason to believe that the electronic coverage of a criminal proceeding or trial will undermine the legal rights of a party or will significantly compromise the safety or privacy concerns of a party, witness or other interested person, and no party, attorney, witness or other interested person has objected to such coverage, the judicial authority shall schedule a hearing to consider limiting or precluding such coverage. To the extent practicable, notice that the judicial authority is considering limiting or precluding electronic coverage of a criminal proceeding or trial, and the date, time and location of the hearing thereon shall be given to the parties and others whose interests may be directly affected by a decision so that they may participate in the hearing and shall be posted on the Judicial Branch website.
(h) Objection raised during the course of a criminal proceeding or trial to the photographing, video or audio recording of specific aspects of the proceeding or trial, or specific individuals or exhibits will be heard and decided by the judicial authority, based on the same standards as set out in subsection (f) of this section used to determine whether to limit or preclude coverage based on objections raised before the start of a criminal proceeding or trial.
(i) The judge presiding over the proceeding or trial in his or her discretion, upon the judge’s own motion or at the request of a participant, may prohibit the broadcasting, televising, recording or photographing of any participant at the trial. The judge shall give great weight to requests where the protection of the identity of a person is desirable in the interests of justice, such as for the victims of crime, police informants, undercover agents, relocated witnesses, juveniles and individuals in comparable situations. ‘‘Participant’’ for the purpose of this section shall mean any party, lawyer or witness.
(j) The judicial authority shall articulate the reasons for its decision on whether or not to limit or preclude electronic coverage of a criminal proceeding or trial, and such decision shall be final.
(k) (1) Only one television camera operator, utilizing one portable mounted television camera, shall be permitted in the courtroom. The television camera and operator shall be positioned in such location in the courtroom as shall be designated by the trial judge. Microphones, related wiring and equipment essential for the broadcasting, televising or recording shall be unobtrusive and shall be located in places designated in advance by the trial judge. While the trial is in progress, the television camera operator shall operate the television camera in this designated location only. (2) Only one still camera photographer shall be permitted in the courtroom. The still camera photographer shall be positioned in such location in the courtroom as shall be designated by the trial judge. While the trial is in progress, the still camera photographer shall photograph court proceedings from this designated location only. (3) Only one audio recorder shall be permitted in the courtroom for purposes of recording the proceeding or trial. Microphones, related wiring and equipment essential for the recording shall be unobtrusive and shall be located in places designated in advance by the trial judge. ( l ) Only still camera, television and audio equipment which does not produce distracting sound or light shall be employed to cover the proceeding or trial. The operator of such equipment shall not employ any artificial lighting device to supplement the existing light in the courtroom without the approval of the judge presiding over the proceeding or trial and other appropriate authority. (m) Except as provided by these rules, broadcasting, televising, recording and photographing in areas immediately adjacent to the courtroom during sessions of court or recesses between sessions shall be prohibited. (n) The conduct of all attorneys with respect to trial publicity shall be governed by Rule 3.6 of the Rules of Professional Conduct. (o) If there are multiple requests to broadcast, televise, record or photograph the same criminal proceeding or trial, the media representatives making such requests must make pooling arrangements among themselves, unless otherwise determined by the judicial authority. The judicial authority shall not mediate any disputes among the media regarding pooling arrangements. (p) To evaluate and resolve prospective problems where broadcasting, televising, recording or photographing by media of a criminal proceeding or trial will take place, and to ensure compliance with these rules during the proceeding or trial, the judicial authority who will hear the proceeding or preside over the trial may require the attendance of attorneys and media personnel at a pretrial conference. (q) In a homicide case involving sexual assault, the broadcasting, televising, recording or photographing by the media of the trial may be permitted by the judicial authority, provided that the victim’s family affirmatively consents to such coverage, that no member of the victim’s family objects to such coverage, and that the victim’s family have been notified. As used in this section, ‘‘victim’s family’’ shall mean a person’s spouse, parent, grandparent, stepparent, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, child, including a natural born child, stepchild and adopted child, grandchild, brother, sister, half brother or half sister or parent of a person’s spouse.
Amendment History
(Adopted June 29, 2007, to take effect Jan. 1, 2008; amended June 20, 2011, to take effect Jan. 1, 2012; amended June 26, 2020, to take effect Jan. 1, 2021; amended June 10, 2022, to take effect Jan. 1, 2023.)
Rules Committee Commentary
Plain-English Summary
This section governs media coverage of criminal proceedings and trials, apart from arraignments, which fall under Section 1-11A, and subject to the general limits in Section 1-10B. Coverage should generally be allowed unless precluded or limited under this section. Trials or proceedings involving sexual offense charges can't be covered, except through the homicide exception described below. As used here, “trial” in jury cases means proceedings after the jury is sworn, and in nonjury cases, proceedings starting with the first witness's swearing in; “criminal proceeding” means any hearing or testimony, or portion of one, held in open court and on the record, other than an arraignment.
Absent good cause, a media or pool representative must email a coverage request to the chief court administrator's designee at least three days before the proceeding or trial, and that designee notifies the administrative judge, presiding judge of criminal matters, the assigned judicial authority, the clerk, and the supervising marshal. Any party, attorney, witness, or other interested person can object in advance if there's a substantial reason coverage would undermine legal rights, compromise safety, or raise significant privacy concerns, with notice of the objection and hearing posted on the Judicial Branch website where practicable; anyone with rights at issue, including the media, can participate, and the objecting party bears the burden of proof. The judicial authority may limit or preclude coverage only for a compelling reason, with no reasonable alternative, and no broader than necessary. It can also schedule its own hearing on similar concerns even without an objection. Mid-proceeding objections to coverage of specific aspects, individuals, or exhibits get decided under the same standard, and the judicial authority must state its reasons for any decision, which is final.
The presiding judge may also prohibit coverage of a specific participant — any party, lawyer, or witness — on the judge's own motion or a participant's request, giving great weight to protecting people such as crime victims, informants, undercover agents, relocated witnesses, and juveniles. Equipment is strictly capped: one television camera operator with one portable mounted camera, one still photographer, and one audio recorder, each confined to a location the trial judge designates and unable to move once the trial starts. Only non-distracting equipment is allowed, with no supplemental lighting absent the presiding judge's approval. Coverage in areas adjacent to the courtroom during sessions or recesses is prohibited, and attorney conduct on trial publicity remains governed by Rule 3.6 of the Rules of Professional Conduct. Multiple outlets covering the same proceeding must pool among themselves, and the judicial authority may require a pretrial conference with attorneys and media personnel to sort out coverage logistics.
Subsection (q) creates a narrow exception: in a homicide case involving sexual assault, the judicial authority may permit coverage of the trial if the victim's family affirmatively consents, no family member objects, and the family has been notified. “Victim's family” is defined broadly to include a spouse, parent, grandparent, stepparent, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, child (including natural-born, step-, and adopted children), grandchild, sibling or half-sibling, and a spouse's parent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the media film a criminal trial in Connecticut?
Generally yes, unless the proceeding falls into a category the rule precludes, such as most sexual offense trials, and subject to any objections the judicial authority grants.
How many cameras are allowed in a Connecticut criminal courtroom?
One television camera with one operator, one still photographer, and one audio recorder — each confined to a location the trial judge designates.
Can media cover a sexual assault homicide trial in Connecticut?
Only if the victim’s family affirmatively consents, no family member objects, and the family has been notified; otherwise coverage of sexual offense proceedings is prohibited.
How far in advance must media request coverage of a criminal trial?
Absent good cause, at least three days before the proceeding or trial, by emailing the chief court administrator’s designee.
Who is considered “victim’s family” for the sexual assault homicide exception?
A spouse, parent, grandparent, stepparent, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, child (natural-born, step-, or adopted), grandchild, sibling or half-sibling, or a spouse’s parent.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 1-11C). Prescribed by the Judges of the Superior Court of Connecticut (Conn. Gen. Stat. Section 51-14). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 9, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: media coverage of CT criminal trialcameras in criminal courtroom Connecticutsexual assault trial camera exceptioncamera equipment limits criminal trialobjecting to criminal trial coverage
COMMENTARY—2021: The changes to this section and to Section 1-10B permit the judicial authority to allow media coverage of a homicide case involving sexual assault, provided that the victim’s family affirmatively consents to such coverage, that no member of the victim’s family objects to such coverage and that the victim’s family has been notified. If any member of the victim’s family objects to such coverage or if the victim’s family cannot be identified or located, the judicial authority should not allow such coverage. As used in this section, ‘‘victim’s family’’ has the same meaning as ‘‘relative’’ in General Statutes § 54-201 (4).
TECHNICAL CHANGE: A technical change was made in subsection (h) to update the terminology to align with current technology and practice.