U.S. District Courts in Illinois, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska are among 14 nationwide in a three-year test program making video recordings available online from certain civil cases.

 

Kansas could start "within the next few weeks" according to Neely Fedde, the Public Outreach Specialist for the District of Kansas federal courts.

 

Kansas judges participating in the Cameras in Court pilot include Chief Judge Kathryn Vratil and Judge Carlos Murguia in Kansas City, Judge Julie Robinson in Topeka, and Judges Tom Martenand Eric Melgren in Wichita.

 

The pilot is limited to civil proceedings. Recordings will require approval of the presiding judge and consent from all parties in a case.

 

Fedde explained that a new court rule effective Sept. 1 allowed the District of Kansas courts to participate in the pilot project. "We have also been developing internal policies and procedures for obtaining consent from the parties who are participating in proceedings which are eligible for recording."

 

Civil cases are often settled out of court making civil trials relatively uncommon.  Fedde said "our district averages between 7 and 12 civil trials per year, and other civil proceedings are also eligible for the pilot project."

 

Fedde said video recording equipment already is installed in Kansas City and Topeka and should be installed in Wichita soon.  The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts spent about $10,000 purchasing video encoders for Kansas according to Fedde.

 

No additional staff was added for the Cameras in Court pilot, and none is anticipated according to Fedde.