MEDIA PROCEDURES FOR THE MENTAL HEALTH COURTHOUSE

These procedures are to ensure the security and efficient handling of cases and events in the Mental Health Courthouse. No filming, photography or electronic recording is permitted in the courthouse except as permitted in the courtroom consistent with California Rules of Court, Rule 980, or in the courthouse consistent with Local Court Rule 4.1 or specific court rules or orders. These procedures have been developed for the protection of all parties and are subject to modification based on specific circumstances or decision of an individual trial court judge in the courtroom, or Superior Court Mental Health supervising judge. Violation of these orders will result in contempt of court or monetary sanction pursuant to Code of Civil Procedures 177.5

1. Law enforcement press passes or other recognized media credentials shall be presented for inspection to Sheriff or Court personnel upon request before bringing in media coverage equipment as defined in Local Court Rule 4.1 (h)¹ and using the designated media area.
2. Requests for media coverage as defined in Court Rule 4.1 (h) in courtrooms, using the designated form under California Rules of Court, Rule 980, shall be submitted to the trial judge.
3. Special requests for filming courtrooms, jury rooms or employee work areas shall be made in writing and shall be made through the Los Angeles Superior Public Information Officer five days before the proposed filming or photographing is to occur, unless good cause is shown. The request should include the amount of time needed to complete the assignment. Time limits will be strictly enforced.
4. Media coverage equipment as defined in Court Rule 4.1 (h) shall be used only in the designated media area and not in any hallway or elevator outside of the designated area. Hand-held audio tape recorders are permitted in the courthouse outside of the courtroom so long as they comply with paragraph 10 of this Order.
5. Designated media area for media interviews as defined in Court Rule 4.1 (h), press conferences and on-camera statements to the media is:
   
   • Jury Assembly Room/Conference Room.
6. The designated media area shall be posted with signs.
7. Equipment and devices used for media coverage as defined in Court Rule 4.1 (h) shall be turned off while being transported to the designated media area or courtrooms unless otherwise permitted in writing by the supervising judge of the courthouse.
8. If audio recording is not permitted by the trial court judge, radio recorders may be taken into the courtroom so long as they are not turned on and remain inside an enclosed case or bag, unless specifically prohibited by the trial court judge.
9. Media personnel shall not attempt to photograph or interview any juror serving in the Mental Health Courthouse unless the juror has been excused from further jury service. After a case is concluded, media may interview jurors with their consent and in the designated media area while in the courthouse.
10. At no time shall any grouping of people in any hallway, entrance or exit become so large as to prevent normal movement of people. The interview shall be moved to the outside of the courthouse.

Dated:	June 14, 1999
Signed:	Harold Shabo Supervising Judge Mental Health Los Angeles Superior Court

¹ Local Court Rule 4.1(h). "Media coverage" means any photographing, recording, or broadcasting of court proceedings by the media using television, radio, photographic or recording equipment.