(NEXSTAR) – You can’t yet watch former President Donald Trump’s trial, but you can now read the daily transcript of the historic hush money proceeding, the New York court system announced Monday.
A court spokeswoman called this a “novel step” and said the decision to publish the records was made. On the New York State Unified Court System website Until the end of the next business day. The decision was made to “ensure broad and continued public access to this very high-profile case.”
New York State Law Regarding Media Coverage of Court Proceedings one of the most restrictive In the country.
According to a 2022 court report, regulations restricting media coverage in courtrooms date back nearly a century. At the time, the sight of bright flashbulbs and cameramen on the witness stand horrified the legal community during the 1935 trial of a man accused of kidnapping and murdering Charles Lindbergh’s baby. A report by the New York-based Modern Courts Fund.
But interest in open government chipped away at these laws, and slowly and cautiously video cameras began to be allowed in courtrooms across the country, often by judges presiding over individual cases. It was at the discretion of
New York state also allowed it on an experimental basis from 1987 to 1997, but it was shut down.
“Current law limits the broadcasting of court proceedings and courtroom space;
Public spectatorship is very limited and public access to daily records in court
“The system’s website is the best way to keep the public directly informed of the progress of this historic trial,” Chief Executive Judge Joseph A. Zayas said in a statement. “This action is in the public interest and is consistent with the court system’s commitment to judicial transparency and its continued efforts to increase public access to and understanding of the courts and the justice system. ”
Monday was the first day of the argument phase after prosecutors and Trump’s defense team completed jury selection last week.
Trump, who has pleaded not guilty to 34 charges of falsifying business records, told reporters on his way out of court on Monday that things went “very well.”
The 77-year-old former president is accused of trying to hide payments to porn star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election.
If convicted, he could be sentenced to probation or up to four years in prison.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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