Mecklenburg County Courts Changing Rules For D.N.C.

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by Kirk Hawkins
Bio | Email | Follow: @kirkhawkins

Story Created: Aug 23, 2012 at 9:42 PM EDT

Story Updated: Sep 3, 2012 at 12:29 PM EDT

CHARLOTTE, N.C.--Haney Howell covered political conventions as a journalist from 1976 to 1984. He supports allowing a camera in a Mecklenburg County courtroom during the Democratic National convention. "The public gets to see what's going on in there pure and simple," Haney said.

Court rules don't normally allow cameras in courtrooms. But, the 26th Judicial District of North Carolina will allow a camera inside its first appearance courtroom.That camera will document the increase in arrests the court anticipates will follow the march on Wall Street South, Sunday, September 2.

Brandy Hagler of the Charlotte School of Law's Civil Rights Clinic said, "I think transparency is always a good thing." Hagler is training legal observers to monitor protesters and police activity
during the D.N.C. While some might worry this change will give protesters unnecessary attention,"The alternative is censorship and I don't go for censorship. Let these people have a voice," Howell said.

Supporters say its a step in the right direction, "I think if TV cameras had more access on a daily basis, that people would really understand a lot more about how the system works," Howell said.

The change will only last a day.The Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office said the change won't interrupt their regular business. Legal advisors for the "Coalition to March on Wall Street South" didn't return our calls for comment in time for publication.

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