Can you photograph, film or record at the trial?

You can’t photograph or film in the courtroom without permission. You have to ask permission from the chairperson, which is the judge.

Permission for photographing or filming before the beginning of consideration of the case or when the decision of the judge pronounces the judgment. Permission is usually granted if the photographing or filming does not cause significant detriment to the protection of the privacy of a participant in the court proceedings and it does not endanger anybody’s safety. The judge may also refuse permission for other weighty reasons.

Permission may also be granted to photograph or film other parts of the hearing if the above criteria are met and if the photographing or filming does not interfere with the conduct of the oral hearing. In addition, each participant in the hearing must give his or her consent to the photographing or filming.

All of this also applies to other than photographing or filming, such as audio recording and video recording. Streaming of images and sound also requires the permission of the chairperson.

Any unauthorized photographing, filming or recording of the trial may result in a disciplinary fine.

Since the permission to photograph or to film is granted by the chairperson, the chairperson is also always entitled to ask for what purpose the trial is being recorded. If there is a suspicion about the intentions of the person requesting permission to photograph or film, the person may be asked to present a press card or similar proof of representing the media. In any case, the chairperson must give the parties an opportunity to state their views on the conditions for granting permission to record before deciding on the matter.

The parties to the proceedings are not allowed to cover their faces during the hearing, even if this is done in the case of filming.