For decades, sketch artist renderings were the only images WRTV was able to show you from inside Indiana courtrooms with a few notable exceptions.
INDIANAPOLIS — WRTV cameras have captured history from nearly every corner of central Indiana for more than 70 years with one notable exception - inside Indiana courtrooms. But that’s about to change.
But despite these restrictions, there have been several notable exceptions throughout Indiana's courtroom history.April 1959 — Judge Thomas J. Faulconer granted camera access to his first jury trial when Connie Nicholas was charged with the murder of Eli Lilly executive Forrest Teel. Nicholas testified that the deadly shooting of her married lover was accidental. Nicholas was found guilty and sentenced to 2-21 years.
November 1977 — Marion County Criminal Court Judge John B. Wilson Jr. allowed WRTV to access the courts video camera system in addition to gathering its own recordings during the Marjorie Jackson murder trial. Howard Willard was charged with murder in the shooting death of the Standard Grocery heiress. After five days of video coverage, Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Richard M. Givan sent a letter to every judge in the state reaffirming that the recording of court proceedings was forbidden.
January 1981 — The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states are permitted to allow the recording of criminal trials even if a defendant objects. Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Richard M. Givan reiterated his belief that ensuring the fairness of a trial is imperative. March 1987 — Evansville native and Chief Justice Designate Randall T. Shepard expressed support for allowing cameras inside Indiana courtrooms to WRTV's Derrik Thomas. Shepard noted that courts in Kentucky had seemingly not lowered the quality of justice with the use of courtroom cameras.
September 1996 — The Indiana Supreme Court began experimenting with allowing cameras inside Indiana courtrooms. WRTV reporter Phil Breman traveled to Evansville where cameras were allowed to record the death penalty appeal proceedings of Matthew Eric Wrinkles.
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