Sunshine in the Courtroom Act of 2025

The Sunshine in the Courtroom Act of 2025 would allow television cameras and media coverage in federal court proceedings. Under this bill, presiding judges in all federal courts, including the Supreme Court, would have discretion to permit or prohibit cameras in their courtrooms. The bill aims to increase transparency and public understanding of the judicial system, which currently operates largely out of public view for most Americans.

The bill includes several safeguards to protect participants in court proceedings. It would prohibit media coverage of private conversations between attorneys and clients or between judges and attorneys that are not part of the official court record. The bill also protects the identities of witnesses and jurors. Additionally, the bill includes a three-year sunset provision, meaning Congress would need to evaluate the impact of media access on the courts before the policy continues beyond that period. Courts would have discretion to set rules for how media equipment is used in the courtroom.