Television Courtroom Broadcasting

Distraction Effects and Eye Tracking

Paul Lambert

• Publisher: Intellect Books
• Year: 2012
• ISBN:
  9781841507590
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Social Sciences
• Subtopic: Sociology
• Index: Social Sciences

Chapter 1

Introduction

Debate and concerns

Cameras in court or television courtroom broadcasting (TCB) is topical and controversial. This book explores one important aspect of the TCB debate.

It explores one of the central concerns in the TCB debate, namely whether there are effects of television cameras in the courtroom. Are the people in court affected or distracted by the television cameras? This is a frequent concern in the debate regarding TCB. Many people have argued that TCB will adversely affect or distract the participants in a case where cameras are permitted. This concern extends to the camera operators if they are permitted in the courtroom.

We will see that not only do these concerns remain, but that they have never been properly researched empirically. With that in mind, the author identifies how modern technology may afford a solution to this part of the wider debate regarding TCB effects.

Eye-tracking can track and record where individual persons in the courtroom are looking, for how long and ultimately whether they are distracted. Eye-tracking TCB research can provide valuable data, insights and answers, which have lingered at least since 1965 when the US Supreme Court first voiced its concerns. (The US Supreme Court shall generally be referred to as the “Supreme Court” throughout the rest of the book).

The book also points out that the debate and effects research need to be much more nuanced.

The legal starting point is the Supreme Court cases. The Supreme Court refers to the distraction-research issues and concerns. It sets the Supreme Court distraction effects research-challenge. The Supreme Court distraction effects research-challenge is significant internationally.

Any policy and legal discussion of TCB must address the effects, concerns and effects research-challenge highlighted by the Supreme Court. There are three Supreme Court cases. One could argue that they do not decide or establish any legal rule per se. However, the common theme in the three cases is that they all refer to and recognise that a central issue is the empirical effects research. They establish the Supreme Court empirical research-challenge in relation to the effects of TCB. This includes distraction effects.

Clearly there are concerns voiced by the Supreme Court. Many potential effects are referred to, such as distraction. Although the Supreme Court has set an empirical research-challenge, it never said how this research should occur. There are no directions, baselines or parameters established. The detail of addressing the research-challenge was left to others. This book significantly develops our knowledge of: how to support and develop our understanding, language, definitions, baseline and parameters of the distraction research necessary to deal with the distraction effects concerns that exist. It also explores and significantly develops the Supreme Court research-challenge with a demonstration of how eye-tracking can take the TCB effects research forward.

TCB has occurred frequently in the United States but in different forms. The Simpson (criminal) case and Judge Judy are very different forms. Even in the Unites States, concerns continue to be raised. The debate and concerns are topical presently for a number of reasons. There is a debate in the United States about introducing television cameras into US federal courts. A separate debate relates to whether TCB should be permitted in the Supreme Court. There has been ongoing debate over a number of decades in the United Kingdom. An official “consultation” took place in 2004 (Department for Constitutional Affairs consultation “Broadcasting Courts”). Recently a form of TCB has been permitted in the UK Supreme Court. Certain parties are now calling to expand TCB beyond the UK Supreme Court into other courts. The main proponent appears to be Sky TV (see generally Ryley 2010).

Despite the importance of the effects issues, it is perhaps surprising that the Supreme Court has only referred to television camera issues on three occasions. The two seminal cases are Estes and Chandler. The most recent case was Hollingsworth. It is clear from these cases that the Supreme Court was and is aware that there are substantial research gaps. The common theme in these cases is the challenge by the Supreme Court that social science and empirical research needs to be undertaken to address the research gaps.

Although the Supreme Court identifies the need for proper research of these issues, the research-challenge has not yet been fully taken up by social science researchers, the media nor the courts themselves. The gaps, concerns and effects are not addressed. This includes concerns about (adverse) distraction effects on those in the courtroom.

The debate in relation to TCB involves many arguments, both for and against cameras in court. This book focuses mainly upon one of those arguments, namely, the argument that introducing television cameras into courtrooms will distract the courtroom participants or actors. Surprisingly, this argument has not been definitively answered in a dedicated body of empirical effects research. As such, this concern remains at issue despite the existence of TCB in the United States. Eye-tracking offers a new solution to this part of the debate.

Background: Three Supreme Court cases

The Supreme Court has discussed the concerns that arise in relation to TCB on three occasions.

The cases were Estes (1965), Chandler (1981) and most recently Hollingsworth (2010). The Supreme Court is aware that there are substantial research gaps in relation to the effects of TCB, and has highlighted a significant research-challenge. More social science and empirical research needs to be carried out to address the research gaps. This is the Supreme Court empirical effects research-challenge. Unfortunately, the research-challenge has not been properly addressed. This is surprising given what is at stake in the courtroom. A defendant’s liberty can be at stake. In certain jurisdictions even a person’s life can be at stake.

There are various forms of courtroom broadcasting, for example, radio, television and more recently Internet. The present book concentrates on distraction effects of one of these forms, namely TCB. That is not to say, however, that some of the distraction issues and concerns with TCB may not also occur in other forms.

TCB has occurred most frequently in the United States – in different forms. Yet, the effects debate continues. Why is this?

One reason is that there is still so little empirical research dealing with the concerns raised, including distraction concerns. Is there definitive distraction research? How good are self-reports of distraction, or self-reports as to the lack of distraction (that is, asking participants directly if they themselves were affected)? Are the few historical third party observations of courtroom participants accurate in relation to distraction effects? Rarely does the empirical research literature seek to compare the effects of criminal cases that may be broadcast, versus the effects of broadcasting civil cases. What are the stated policies or aims of courtroom broadcasting? If it is to achieve or enhance education, confidence or information, for example, how often has empirical research sought to validate these effects? Are particular courtroom broadcasts meant to educate or enhance confidence, for example, riot sentencing (decisions), criminal sentencing, appeal decisions (criminal/civil), full or gavel to gavel (G2G) cases versus snippets of cases, in-court film only footage versus in-court film plus in-court audio footage? If we are seeking to measure effects of introducing courtroom broadcasting, be it distraction or otherwise, how frequently has the research to date undertaken baseline research, that is, gathering data before cameras are introduced to draw comparisons and measure effects? This applies equally to other effects issues.

Effects can occur in very different ways. Effects can be very nuanced. We may have different effects, including distraction effects, for different forms of courtroom broadcasting. Generally, the effects of different forms of courtroom broadcasting are not empirically (or otherwise) researched and compared. It is broadly assumed, for example, that TCB will achieve equal educational effects across all forms of courtroom broadcasting. Many people have also assumed that all forms of TCB will not distract the courtroom participants. Can this be correct?

Also ignored is the central question of what is “courtroom broadcasting”? Surprisingly, the research literature does not properly address this question. It is important to address this question because defining courtroom broadcasting and television courtroom broadcasting helps us to begin properly distinguishing the different effects. It also assists us in differentiating and researching the effects per individual forms of courtroom broadcasting. Consider, for example, how often the education effects of radio courtroom broadcasting have been compared to TCB. How often has TCB been compared to Internet courtroom broadcasting? Have the different forms of TCB been defined and distinguished? Have the different effects of each been researched? Consider, for example, the differences in form as between entertainment TCB, reality TCB, news TCB, documentary TCB, live TCB, Internet TCB (iTCB). The nuances of each can lead to different potential effects. Yet the research and policy debate has not yet begun to address these nuances.

The book examines one of the research gaps identified in the Supreme Court empirical research-challenge, distraction effects, and how we might address that research-challenge. The author commends the use of new eye-tracking technology to research in-court distraction effects on courtroom participants, actors or personnel. In addition, the author has undertaken a successful proof-of-concept demonstration to further advance this part of the Supreme Court research-challenge.

The debate in the United States centres in particular on legislative efforts regarding TCB in US federal courts (e.g. “Sunshine in the Courtroom” Bill(s)), the second federal courts experiment, the Supreme Court Hollingsworth case, and the effects and benefits generally.

A full examination of the history and prevalence of courtroom broadcasting is beyond this book (but readers might be interested in the review of US state-wide TCB, carried out by the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) annually). This book is also not about the arguments or the debate on either side per se.

The Estes case

The Estes case decided against permitting TCB. It effectively barred cameras from US courts for decades. It held that TCB infringed the defendant’s rights to a fair trial (Estes: 535). Although it referred to out-of-court effects issues, the comments in relation to in-court effects are the most interesting to eye-tracking research. Responding to these comments is the challenge.

Mr Justice Clarke delivered the main opinion. It sets out many of the areas that should be addressed by a sustained body of empirical effects research. It should be noted, however, that not all potential effects issues were identified and set out in the Supreme Court judgements. The research and literature do not appear to refer to or acknowledge this point.

The Chandler case

The Chandler case was more permissive towards courtroom broadcasting. It upheld a decision in Florida to allow the televised broadcasting of a case. As such, it is sometimes viewed as overruling or distinguishing Estes. Kozinski and Johnson state that Chandler lifted the Estes “prohibition” (2010: 1110). They add that “the Court noted evidence that those concerns were ‘less substantial factors’ in 1981” (Kozinski and Johnson 2010: 110) than 1965. The ban was not actually lifted to permit unlimited courtroom broadcasting. Rather the Chandler Supreme Court said that the individual states were permitted to experiment with TCB. It did not expressly mandate nor judicially permit any and all forms of courtroom broadcasting. Indeed strictly speaking, it was only dealing with one form of courtroom broadcasting, namely, TCB in a criminal case. Even within TCB, there are many forms/sub-forms. Unfortunately, the discussion to date has generally not defined and examined the different forms and sub-forms of TCB. The significant nuances and different effects are effectively ignored.

The Hollingsworth case

The most recent Supreme Court case occurred in 2010. The Supreme Court was asked to stay the television broadcast of a federal trial. The Californian District Court had issued an order permitting live broadcasting via streaming video to a number of federal courts (Hollingsworth: 1). The defendants objected (Hollingsworth: 2). They sought a stay, which was granted by the Supreme Court (Hollingsworth: 2).

The case relates to the same sex-marriage law proposal (Proposition 8 or Prop 8) in California. Some parties said that they had been harassed as a result of their involvement, including receiving death threats (Hollingsworth: 2). They anticipated that these threats would continue or increase if TCB was permitted.

The local court had envisaged this case as an experiment of TCB in California’s federal courts (Hollingsworth: 5). This necessitated changing a local law, which banned such broadcasting (Hollingsworth: 9).

The Supreme Court challenge

Despite the importance of effect issues, it is surprising that the Supreme Court has only referred to TCB issues on three occasions. The two seminal cases are Estes and Chandler. The most recent case is Hollingsworth in January 2010. The other two took place in 1965 (Estes) and 1981 (Chandler).

One would have expected that, in the 47 years since the first of these cases, substantial and sustained empirical research would have occurred to meet the challenge, which would have enhanced our knowledge and understanding of TCB. One would expect, for example, that there would be substantive empirical research of distraction effects in court. This is not the case. The first televised broadcast case took place even earlier than 1965.

Unfortunately, it is clear from these cases that the Supreme Court was and is aware that there are substantial research gaps. This includes the distraction effects research gap. Despite the Supreme Court identifying the need for proper research of these issues, the empirical research-challenge has not been fully taken up by social science researchers, the media, courts or policymakers. Eye-tracking offers one very clear avenue for such research. It also has substantial advantages over some of the less rigorous research previously. It can be recorded and is verifiable.

There are many research problems. We have too little research. There are many research gaps. Many studies are non-scientific and non-empirical, and rely on personal opinion, self-reports, opinion-reports and questionnaires only. Self-report research has significant flaws – in any field of research. The main problem is that they are subjective. They can also be inaccurate. The first reported TCB case occurred in 1953. This is referred to in the literature as the case of Billy Eugene Manley in Oklahoma City in 1953 (Barber 1987: 10–11). Cinema broadcasts of courtroom footage occurred prior to that. Most, if not all, of the effects literature is addressed to television as opposed to the movie theatre broadcasts. Yet, many of the same in-court distraction issues may apply to filming for the movie broadcasts. This issue is not addressed in the general literature possibly because the movie broadcasts diminished as TCB became more popular. Yet since then, there appears to be just over twenty scientific, methodical and empirical studies of TCB effects issues. These are welcome, but as yet, obviously insufficient and inconclusive.

The book suggests that with today’s research methodologies, technology and eye-trackers (see Chapters 7 and 8) in particular, we can begin to empirically address some of the concerns and challenges of the Supreme Court. The author is the first researcher to identify, recommend and advance such research.

Let us see what the Supreme Court said in relation to the lack of research. The Supreme Court recognised that there was not enough proper and empirical research, and set a challenge that such research be undertaken to fill the substantial research gaps (Estes: 541 Clarke, J). Chief Justice Warren in Estes, referring to the case of Tumey where “the Court found the procedure so inconsistent with the conception of what a trial should be and so likely to produce prejudice that it declared the practice unconstitutional even though no specific prejudice was shown” (Estes: 550, 562). Keating commented in relation to a stockholders meeting that...