Rule 8.01 Permission of the Court Required

If you want to bring cameras or recording equipment into a courtroom, you need to get permission first. The judge or magistrate in charge of that courtroom gets to decide whether to allow it. This means the rules can be different from one courtroom to the next, depending on what that particular judge or magistrate prefers.

This rule gives judges and magistrates control over their own courtrooms when it comes to media coverage or recording. So if you're a reporter, photographer, or just someone who wants to record a hearing, you can't assume it's automatically allowed. You have to ask the presiding judge or magistrate ahead of time and get their approval before setting up any cameras or audio equipment in or around the courtroom.