Northern Ireland Plans Broadcast Court Sentencing Remarks

Northern Ireland's Department of Justice, led by Justice Minister Naomi Long, has proposed legislation allowing broadcasters to film judges delivering sentences in certain court cases, including Court of Appeal rulings and Crown Court sentencing remarks. This initiative aims to increase transparency and public confidence in the justice system, while ensuring the privacy of victims, witnesses, jurors, and the public by prohibiting their filming or recording. The decision to record or broadcast specific cases will rest with individual judges, with existing reporting restrictions remaining in place. The proposals follow a public consultation and are intended to provide an additional means for journalists to cover court proceedings already accessible through traditional reporting. The Department plans to work closely with the Office of the Lady Chief Justice Dame Siobhan Keegan to develop the legislative framework, although the new legislation is expected to be deferred until after the next Assembly elections. Minister Long emphasized that the move is not meant to turn courts into entertainment but to bolster trust in the judicial process while prioritizing the welfare of victims and witnesses.