Although the infamous OJ trial started the controversy, the Casey Anthony trial has only added fuel to the fire. Should court cases be televised to the public or does this practice turn the justice system into a media circus? Of course, anyone can walk into any adult courtroom and view a trial in most cases. If you’re ever interested in the entire process, spend a day at your local court to get a first hand view of a typical trial. You’ll quickly find it’s nowhere near as exciting as what we see on TV.
Proponents of televised trials say that it would add more transparency to the process and allow the public to see everything that’s going on. It would act as an additional deterrent to anyone who doesn’t want their bad deeds broadcast to the community or the world. Because local governments are strapped for cash, it could even generate a little revenue to fill the coffers.
On the other hand, bringing cameras into the courtroom would detract from the dignity and respect that the justice system should be given. And, what about people who are unjustly accused of a crime? Even though they may be acquitted in the courtroom, public opinion is rarely so forgiving. In many cases, viewers wouldn’t even watch the entire case and simply assume that the person was found guilty at the end of the trial. In this case, a person’s reputation could be ruined even further than it is with a non-televised case.
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