- Courtroom sketch
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A courtroom sketch of an accused person flanked by his attorneys, drawn in about eight minutes.
A courtroom sketch is an artistic depiction of the proceedings in a court of law. To prevent distractions and preserve the privacy of those participating in court proceedings, cameras are not allowed in courtrooms in many jurisdictions. This requires news media to rely on sketch artists for illustrations of the proceedings.
Contents
Creating courtroom sketches
Courtroom sketch artists attend judicial proceedings as members of the public, although they may not be permitted to actually sketch proceedings while in court. In the UK, courtroom artists are allowed to take notes, but must create their sketches from memory after leaving the courtroom.[1]
Courtroom artists can quickly capture a moment on paper and then sell their work to media outlets who would otherwise be denied a visual record of the trial. Pastels are typically used, but artists also use pencils, charcoal or other materials suitable for sketching. An established freelance artist working in a busy court system can work up to 45 hours per week. They may be paid per sketch, or on a per diem commission. Sketches may be sold to television stations, newswire services, or newspapers, or even to lawyers or judges who may want to keep a sketch as a memento of a particular trial. [2] Courtroom sketches may also be purchased for institutional archives, if they depict a trial of historic importance. The entire set of courtroom sketches related to the Lindy Chamberlain trial were purchased by the National Museum of Australia from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).[3]
A courtroom sketch artist must work quickly, particularly during arraignment hearings where a witness may appear in court for only a few minutes. A television-ready sketch can be produced in that time, and viewed on television immediately after a court proceeding is finished.[4]
History
An 1889 courtroom sketch from the trial of ex-Alderman Thomas Cleary, which was published in the New York Times.Courtroom sketches in the United States date back as far as the Salem Witch Trials during the 17th century. Courtroom sketch artists were present for the trial of abolitionist John Brown. By the mid-1800s there were well-known court artists and printmakers such as George Caleb Bingham and David G. Blyth. These sketches were reproduced as engravings in the print publications of the era, long before photography was a practical option for courtroom news coverage. Mass-publication of news photographs became more widespread in the 1950s, but courts were reluctant to allow either cameras or sketch artists in courtrooms since they were viewed as a distraction. Artist Ida Libby Dengrove protested these restrictions and gradually courtrooms began allowing sketch artists to work while seated in the public gallery during trials.[5]
Cameras were first permitted in courtrooms in the United States in the mid-1980s.[6]Since then, demand for courtroom sketches has declined. They are still used in some jurisdictions however, when cameras are not permitted inside courtrooms. Courtroom sketches are specifically prohibited in the courts of Hong Kong.[7]
In the UK, an act of Parliament (Section 41, Criminal Justice Act 1925) prevents artists from drawing in court, although they can make notes, thus they have to do the court drawings from memory.[8]
See also
- Category:Courtroom sketch artists
- Sketch
- History of journalism
References
- ^ Dammann, Guy (14 November 2006). "A sketchy future for courtroom artists". London: The Guardian. doi:14 November 2006. http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/artblog/2006/nov/14/courtroomartblog. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
- ^ "As courtroom sketch artist, she's the people's witness". New York Daily News. http://articles.nydailynews.com/2008-02-24/entertainment/17890462_1_courtroom-artist-tv-station-lawyer. Retrieved September 7, 2011.
- ^ "Courtroom drawings sketch Chamberlain's history". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-07-25/chamberlain-court-sketches-go-on-display/2808280. Retrieved September 7, 2011.
- ^ Sakai, Mike. "Courtroom sketch artist in Loughner case says eyes tell the story". East Valley Tribune. http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/arizona/article_6bb05b78-202c-11e0-b4df-001cc4c03286.html. Retrieved September 7, 2011.
- ^ Robert H. Giles, Robert W. Snyder (1999). Covering the courts: free press, fair trials & journalistic performance. Transaction Publishers. ISBN 9780765804624.
- ^ Sakai, Mike. "Courtroom sketch artist in Loughner case says eyes tell the story". East Valley Tribune. http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/arizona/article_6bb05b78-202c-11e0-b4df-001cc4c03286.html. Retrieved September 7, 2011.
- ^ Chapter 228, Section 7 - Summary Offences Ordinance
- ^ "Contempt of Court". Crown Prosecution Service. http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/a_to_c/contempt_of_court/.
External links
Categories:- Art genres
- Court reporting
- Courtroom sketch artists
- Journalism
- Journalism occupations
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