Print & Electronic Media

The Sixth Judicial Circuit is pleased to provide information to the media. It is the Public Information Office’s goal to ensure that the media and general public are accommodated to the best of the Court's abilities, while ensuring the right of the litigant to a fair and orderly trial and ensuring the operational integrity of the Court.

Media policies that apply to all court proceedings in Pasco and Pinellas counties may be found in Administrative Order 2024-018 PA/PI-CR and Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.450. Please note that these orders and any orders issued by the presiding judge will be strictly enforced. It is presumed that all media personnel covering court proceedings have read and know the content of these rules.

Questions about these rules, camera and microphone placement and use of other electronic devices (including laptop computers) should be directed to the Public Information Office. In some courtrooms, media panels provide audio and video feeds for recording devices to feed other media. When these panels are not present, the Public Information Office will work with media liaisons to establish temporary facilities and feeds, or the media can decide a means of distributing signals and/or footage. Pooling arrangements shall be the sole responsibility of the media.

Video cameras in the courtroom must be mounted and operated from a tripod. Still cameras can be handheld, however neither video nor still photographers are permitted to move about the courtroom during proceedings, nor engage in any movement or conversation that attracts undue attention. A video camera can only be installed or removed from the courtroom when the Court is not in session.

Unless otherwise specified by the presiding judge, seating in the courtroom for members of the press is on a first-come, first-served basis. Media persons are requested to dress appropriately. Pagers and cell phones should be turned off or placed on vibrate mode.

In courthouses where designated media rooms are not available, attempts will be made to accommodate requests for work space, interview rooms or monitoring areas.

 

In the Sixth Circuit, the media’s access to court proceedings is taken seriously. We recognize that one of the fundamental principles behind our legal process is the requirement that proceedings be conducted in open court. That means, that with only a few exceptions, all civil and criminal proceedings within our trial courts are open to the watchful eye of the media and the people the system serves.

For questions about media matters, contact:

Public Information Office
Sixth Judicial Circuit
14250 49th St. North, Suite J4410
Clearwater, FL 33762
Phone: 727.453.7176
e-mail: pio@jud6.org