MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Judiciary A

By: Representative McInnis

AN ACT TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF CERTAIN CAMERAS IN THE COURTS OF THIS STATE; TO PRESCRIBE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF THIS ACT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. No television camera, videocamera or other camera which records motion pictures and records sound shall be permitted in any court in the state for the purposes of recording any judicial proceedings. Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall be removed from the court and the tape used for recording shall be confiscated by the court. In addition, such person who violates this section, upon conviction, shall be subject to a fine of not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00). The provisions of this section shall not apply to cameras which produce still pictures and have no audio recording or to the use of video equipment in the presentation of evidence.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1999.