Cook County judge outlines cameras in courtroom

The chief judge of the Cook County circuit court has outlined the process for the news media to use cameras into courtrooms.

Judge Timothy Evans oversaw the Monday afternoon presentation. Last week the Illinois Supreme Court ruled to allow the use of cameras and audio recording devices in Cook County courts on an experimental basis

Cook County is the largest and latest of dozens of counties statewide to join a court camera pilot program that launched in 2012.

Cameras will be allowed starting Jan. 5 in felony courtrooms at the Leighton Criminal Court Building in Chicago, where there have been many high-profile trials. Bond hearings are excluded from the pilot project.

Illinois has allowed cameras to be present during Supreme Court and Appellate Court hearings since 1983.