Views sought on broadcasting of courts in Northern Ireland
Date published:
Sentencing remarks by Crown Court judges could be broadcast to the public under proposals being considered by the Department of Justice.
Justice Minister Naomi Long has launched a public consultation on the broadcasting of certain court proceedings in Northern Ireland.
The consultation is seeking views on proposals to permit the recording and broadcasting of some court proceedings, including judgments and legal exchanges in the Court of Appeal and sentencing remarks in Crown Court cases.
Minister Long is inviting responses from anyone who uses the courts, people working within the justice system, the media, community and voluntary sector organisations, and anyone else with an interest in promoting open justice.
The Minister said:
“I welcome this consultation as I believe that broadcasting of certain court proceedings would be a positive step in improving the public’s right to see justice being done.
“I am conscious, however, that there may be concerns around broadcasting of court proceedings, not least the potential for exacerbating the trauma of victims.
“As always, any change will be victim focused; in bringing forward these proposals, I wish to make it clear that we are not proposing to allow the recording or filming of victims, witnesses or jurors.
“We are also not suggesting that members of the public or court staff would be filmed.
“I believe the proposals in the consultation support the principle of open justice while ensuring the rights of victims and witnesses are fully respected.”
Lady Chief Justice, Dame Siobhan Keegan, has also welcomed the launch of the consultation.
She said:
“The Department’s consultation helpfully builds on the pilot I initiated to test the feasibility of filming the delivery of judgments in the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal, which demonstrated that the broadcasting of certain proceedings could work well in practice while maintaining the solemnity of the court.”
The consultation paper suggests the types of proceedings that could initially be broadcast as:
- the handing down of a judgment in the Court of Appeal, as well as the submissions of legal representatives and exchanges between legal representatives and the court; and
- judges making sentencing remarks in the Crown Court.
Concluding, the Minister said:
“Allowing for greater transparency in the conduct of court business would help to improve public understanding of what the judiciary does and how judicial decisions are made.
“This should enhance public confidence and trust in our justice system, which is why I am consulting on this important initiative.”
The closing date for the consultation is Wednesday 16 July 2025.
You can respond via the consultation section on the Department of Justice website or online via CitizenSpace .
Notes to editors:
- Broadcasting of courts in Northern Ireland is currently prohibited by two pieces of legislation - the Criminal Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 1945 and the Contempt of Court Act 1981. Should the Minister decide to allow the broadcasting of courts, primary legislation would be needed to provide the Department with a power, subject to the agreement of the Lady Chief Justice, to make secondary legislation in the form of an order to disapply in prescribed circumstances the legislative provisions that currently prohibit the recording and broadcasting of courts.
- Given the current legislative programme, it is likely that any new primary legislation would have to be progressed in the next Assembly mandate, subject to an incoming Minister and a new Executive agreeing to legislate on this matter.
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