Courtroom sketch

Drawings of court proceedings

A courtroom sketch is an artistic depiction of the proceedings in a court of law. In many jurisdictions, the use of cameras in courtrooms is generally prohibited in order to prevent distractions and preserve privacy. This requires news media to rely on sketch artists for illustrations of the proceedings.

Courtroom sketch artists attend judicial proceedings as members of the public or as credentialed media depending on the venue and jurisdiction. Judges may require or allow artists to sit in a designated area or they may sit in general public seating. In some jurisdictions, including the United Kingdom and Hong Kong, courtroom artists are not permitted to sketch proceedings while in court and must create sketches from memory or notes after leaving the courtroom. Courtroom sketches may also be acquired by institutional archives. 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. Selected works of American court artists Richard Tomlinson and Elizabeth Williams are held at the Lloyd Sealy Library at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Other collections of courtroom art include the works of Howard Brodie held in the Library of Congress,

A courtroom artist must work quickly, particularly during arraignment hearings where a witness may appear in court for only a few minutes. A television ready illustration can be produced in that time, and viewed on television after a court proceeding is finished. Courtroom artists can be barred from drawing alleged victims of sexual abuse, minors, and jurors or some witnesses in high profile trials. By the mid 19th century, there were well known court artists and printmakers such as George Caleb Bingham and David G. Blyth. Sketches during this era were reproduced as engravings in print publications, because photography was not a practical option for courtroom news coverage. Additionally, the American Bar Association adopted Judicial Canon 35, which prohibited the use of motion or still cameras in the courtroom and was codified into law by the majority of states. In 1973, courtroom artist Aggie Whelan (Kenny) was hired by CBS to illustrate the Gainesville Eight trial. The restrictions were too broad and violated both CBS and Whelan's First Amendment rights. By 1987, courtroom photography was allowed in 44 states. all 50 states allowed the use of courtroom photography by 2014.

Notable American courtroom artists include Howard Brodie, Marguerite Martyn, Bill Robles, Carole Kabrin, Aggie Whelan Kenny, Elizabeth Williams, Jane Rosenberg, Christine Cornell (WNBC and CNN), Art Lien (NBC, SCOTUSblog), Marilyn Church (The New York Times), Richard Tomlinson (WNEW TV), and Joseph W. Papin (The New York Daily News). One of the most well known courtroom artists was Walt Stewart, whose career began with the trial of Jack Ruby. Over the next 35 years while on retainer by various networks, he covered famous trials such as the Manson Family, Soledad Brothers, Angela Davis and Patty Hearst. His work now hangs in museums and his sketches of the Patty Hearst trial were purchased by Liza Minnelli. Joseph W. Papin worked for The New York Daily News from 1969 to 1992 and covered most of the major U. S. trials during that period of time. Among them, the Watergate hearings, the Patty Hearst, Son of Sam (David Berkowitz), The Pizza Connection, and the Jean Harris trial. Howard Brodie was a courtroom artist whose work included covering the trials of Jack Ruby, Sirhan Sirhan, William Calley, Charles Manson, Patty Hearst, and the Chicago Seven. He primarily worked for the CBS Evening News and anchor Walter Cronkite coined the term "artist correspondent" to describe his work. Bill Robles is an Emmy Award nominated The first trial Robles covered as a television news courtroom artist was the trial of Manson. Kenny received an Emmy for her work for the CBS Evening News on the trials of John N. Mitchell and Maurice Stans. Her work is included in the Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States. She is best known for her coverage of white collar criminals tried in New York City. Her sketches depicting the Sean Bell trial are held by the Lloyd Sealy Library at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice.