Bill Text: MS HB952 | 2014 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Courtroom proceedings; require electronic recording of with video and audio.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2014-02-04 - Died In Committee [HB952 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2014-HB952-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2014 Regular Session
To: Judiciary A; Appropriations
By: Representative Dixon
House Bill 952
AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE SUPREME COURT AND THE COURT OF APPEALS, AND ALL CIRCUIT, CHANCERY AND COUNTY COURT JUDGES TO ELECTRONICALLY RECORD PROCEEDINGS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC IN THE COURTROOM FOR ACCESS TO THE PUBLIC UPON REQUEST; TO MAKE CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS AND CONDITIONS REGARDING THE ELECTRONIC RECORDINGS; TO REQUIRE THE CLERK OF THE COURT TO STORE THE RECORDINGS FOR AT LEAST FIVE YEARS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. (1) The Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals, and all circuit, chancery and county court judges shall electronically record, including both video and audio, proceedings open to the public in the courtroom for access to the public upon request:
(a) A judge is not required to electronically record hearings of motions to suppress or to dismiss or of probable cause or voir dire hearings;
(b) During the conduct of a jury trial, a judge shall not record bench conferences, conferences between counsel, or conferences between counsel and client; and
(c) A judge should require that all equipment is of a type and positioned and operated in a manner which does not detract from the dignity and decorum of the proceeding, and only one stationary, mechanically silent, video or motion picture camera, and, in addition, one silent still camera should be permitted in the courtroom at one time.
(2) The clerk of the court shall store the electronic recordings for at least five (5) years before they may be discarded.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2014.
