Runestad testifies on his bill for court recording transparency

Runestad testifies on his bill for court recording transparency

LANSING, Mich. — Sen. Jim Runestad testified before the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee on Thursday in support of his measure requiring transparency in video recordings of court cases.

Senate Bill 790 would require courts that create a video recording of a case to make the video available to the public.

“Making these recordings available to the public will increase the transparency and availability of court proceedings,” said Runestad, R-White Lake. “It is important that government operations be as transparent as possible.”

Runestad’s bill would require that a video made public be 100% complete and not edited to remove anything that would have been viewable to someone present at the hearing. Videos must be made public within 10 days of the hearing and remain available for at least 60 days.

“There is little difference between attending a hearing as a member of the public and watching the recording of the hearing,” Runestad said. “In an era where people can watch TV whenever they please, the courts should be allowing justice on-demand as well.”

Supreme Court Chief Justice Bridget Mary McCormack testified with Runestad in support of his bill.

The Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee will hear further testimony on SB 790 in the coming weeks.

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