Lord Irvine meets broadcasters as he zooms in on courts

The prospect of cameras in court grew closer last week after the Lord Chancellor met broadcasters to develop ideas for a pilot television programme.

A Lord Chancellor's Department spokesman confirmed that Lord Irvine met a dozen officials from broadcasting companies last week.

Once made, the pilot would have to be approved by him and other top judges before any broadcast.

Lord Irvine has previously said that televising some high-profile appeal cases, such as the extradition hearings of Chilean dictator General Augusto Pinochet, could have an educational effect on how the public perceives the judicial system.

Giving a cautious welcome, a Law Society spokesman said any pilot should not cover cases with witnesses as giving evidence was already very stressful.

See Editorial, (Gazette [2003] 13 March, page 14)

Victoria MacCallum