Local Civil Rule 83.3 and Local Criminal Rule 53 were amended to make plain that no external participant may record a court proceeding. In doing so, the Court sought to address advancements in technology and media that broaden the way proceedings could be captured. The Court also sought to make clear that only one official court record exists.
The changes to Local Civil Rule 83.3 and Local Criminal Rule 53 do not limit public access to in-court proceedings. Public access to in-court proceedings remains available by attendance in person, or through appropriate electronic means during the COVID pandemic. The changes to Local Civil Rule 83.3 and Local Criminal Rule 53 do not inhibit access to personal electronic devices that the presiding judge has approved.
Below are redlined versions of the amendments and a clean post-amendment version of each rule.
Local Civil Rule 83.3 / Local Criminal Rule 53
Below is the updated version of the Local Rules effective December 1, 2020.