17th Circuit Court Forms
Media Protocol for the Kent County Courthouse
180 Ottawa NW Grand Rapids Michigan 49503
September 24, 2008
- The media must submit SCAO MC27 - Request and Notice for Film and Electronic Media Coverage of Court Proceedings. Please submit the media request form electronically for the Circuit and Probate Courts to renee.hutchens@kentcountymi.gov and copy mary.endres@kentcountymi.gov. For the District Court please submit the form to vickie.morren@grcourt.org and copy elizabeth.stickroe@grcourt.org. Forms must be submitted ASAP and, when possible, one to three days prior to the Court proceeding; late requests will be at the discretion of the Judge presiding over the hearing in question. Media request for arraignments must be submitted by 8:00 a.m. the day of the proceeding.
- This form will be placed on www.accessKent.com (Circuit and Probate Court) and www.grcourt.org (61st District Court) websites for the convenience of the media.
- Media personnel with cameras or equipment will be required to provide and wear employment identification while in the Courthouse.
- Court Staff - The signed form should be copied by the Judge’s staff and the copy given to the Facility Manager (or one of his/her staff if the Facility Manager isn’t available). Please fax this form to 632-5485. This will then be communicated as needed with Security and IT.
- Only one motion-media camera will be allowed in the courtroom. The feed from this camera will be patched to the media room on the 4th floor for use by other media outlets.
- The location of the media motion camera in a courtroom will be the same from courtroom to courtroom. (The designated location is the corner on the well side of the bar adjacent to the jury box).
- Live streaming or broadcasting can be done from the exterior feed located in the center of the east side of the Courthouse adjacent to Ionia Ave. Signal splitting of the single feed is the responsibility of the user.
- Microwave transmitting from inside the Courthouse is not allowed without the prior approval of the Facility Manager at 632-5500.
- Still/press cameras in the courtrooms will be limited to the gallery or audience area and will not be allowed to pass the bar.
- Security for all Courthouse functions is provided by the Kent County Sheriff’s Department. Immediate decisions regarding security will be made by the on-duty deputies for that proceeding. Arranged security will be determined and approved/denied by the Lieutenant or Sergeant and the Facilities Manager.
- Members of the Jury are not to be filmed or photographed.
- Media representatives will conduct themselves so as not to disrupt or distract the Jury or the Court.
- Media exiting prior to the conclusion of a proceeding must do so without distraction to the Court.
- At Judicial discretion, media can be directed not to film or take pictures of identified Court participants.
- For good cause, exercising judicial discretion and in accordance with law, media can be prohibited from filming, photographing, or recording specific court proceedings.
- The Kent County Courthouse is a public facility. This facility, like many others, also has restricted areas where the public and/or media are not permitted. Enforcement of all security and restricted areas will be maintained by the security staff.
- Ultimate responsibility for interpretation, enforcement, or departure from the terms of the protocol will rest with the judge presiding over the hearing at issue.
- The effective date of the protocol is October 1, 2008.
Request and Notice for Film and Electronic Media Coverage of Court Proceedings
