Should Donald Trump face indictment in Fulton County, Georgia, it won’t mark his inaugural encounter with legal accusations in a courtroom setting.
However, on this occasion, the complete proceedings are expected to unfold before live television audiences.
Fulton County Trump indictment:
Trump and his allies “constituted a criminal organization whose members and associates engaged in various related criminal activities”
"They knowingly and willfully joined conspiracy to unlawfully change the outcome of the election in favor of…
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) August 15, 2023
Georgia law requires that cameras be allowed during judicial proceedings with a judge’s approval. Cameras are seen as an important aspect of transparency.
Back in 2018, the Georgia Supreme Court, through an amendment incorporating smartphones, emphasized the significance of transparency:
“Open courtrooms are an indispensable element of an effective and respected judicial system. It is the policy of Georgia’s courts to promote access to and understanding of court proceedings not only by the participants in them but also by the general public and by news media who will report on the proceedings to the public.”
Georgia judge rules cameras will be allowed in the courtroom if Trump is indicted, meaning his fourth arraignment is likely to be televised. pic.twitter.com/8lgELLma7e
— Mike Sington (@MikeSington) August 14, 2023
The ultimate authority regarding camera access lies with the presiding judge. Media outlets are obligated to formally submit a request, referred to as Rule 22, which the judge evaluates.
This filing is often perceived as more procedural since these requests are nearly always approved.
Consequently, if the former president faces indictment and necessitates an in-person arraignment in Atlanta, it’s probable that the world would witness his debut appearance as a defendant on camera, standing before a judge to enter a plea.
The Georgia trial against Trump, Meadows, Giuliani, Eastman, Clark, and others will be televised, for the entire nation to see and evaluate, with their own eyes.
— Neal Katyal (@neal_katyal) August 15, 2023
Until this point, only a few images have been permitted inside the New York City courtroom during his previous arraignments.
