And then I wrote...

by Dick Schilling, "Editor Emeritus"

... that the older one gets, the more things there are that remind us of events long past. And sometimes those memories are a bit hazy.

Whenever President Trump appears in front of a crowd with reporters and cameramen present, the noise of camera shutters clicking is very loud and intrusive. I suspect that was true of past presidents as well, but I probably notice it more since President Trump makes himself available for many more such appearances than did, for example, his predecessor.

That reminds me of my first experience with cameras in the courtroom. It was probably in the 1970s when the state legislature gave its approval, despite objections from the judiciary. Judges were afraid trial pailicipants, and attorneys in particular, would play to the cameras.

Experienced reporters were named media representatives, and those desiring to have a camera in a courtroom had to make the request of that representative, who would then decide if the presiding judge could be contacted for approval. The media rep for this area was Grant Price, a television news anchor. One of the Cedar Rapids - Waterloo TV stations broke the ice with a TV camera in court for a trial. Very soon thereafter came word of a major homicide trial to be held in Waukon. We requested and were approved by Price for what was one of the first, if not the first, such requests approved for a newspaper.

When we approached the judge, he approved, and his only caveat was not to disrupt proceedings.

Still cameras click. TV cameras do not.

So, with the help of Clerk of Court Carl Christianson, I and the reporter who would spend the most time in court took the camera we intended to use into the empty courtroom, and tripped the shutter.

It sounded like a rifle shot!

No doubt that sound would attract the attention of everyone in the courtroom, and while it might not sound as loud as in the empty room, it would be heard.

After a conference, it was decided that we would take pictures of witnesses only when first sworn in, when no questions were being asked and no testimony was being given. It worked fine.

I admit to ignorance of where that process rests at present, so maybe I will have to pay more attention to televised trials to learn if still cameras are still being used.