Televising Moussaoui Federal Trial
Gerhard A. Grove
Dr. Ferry
PSC201
Northwood University
Televising Moussaoui Federal Trial
Abstract
This paper will cover the current issue and controversy of televising the Zacarias Moussaoui federal trial. The trial is the first trial of a suspected terrorist involved with the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center attacks. I intend to show that the decision of U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema to ban photographers and Court TV from the proceedings was wrong, based on the constitutional rights of the public and previous statutes. This paper will cover various cases involving televised court proceedings and public opinion concerning the media coverage of criminal trials.
Table of Contents
Background 4
Cameras in the Court 5
Supreme Court 6
Cameras Introduced to the Courts 8
Justification for Televising Moussaoui 9
Summary 10
References 11
Background
On September 11, 2001, perhaps the most vicious assault on the United States was committed in the form of a terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York. This attack claimed the lives of more than three thousand souls made up of innocent civilians, firefighters, and police officers. The incident involved the highjacking of two civilian airliners and using them as missiles to bring down the Trade Center. At the time the attacks were taking place in New York, an identical attack was being carried out against the Pentagon. This attack also involved the highjacking of two airliners and using them as missiles. Civilians aboard one airliner intervened, sacrificing their lives and preventing the terrorist from completing their unthinkable attack. The second group of terrorist was successful in their mission and took the lives of over three hundred inside the Pentagon.
Muslim extremist belonging to the Al Qaeda terrorist group carried out these attacks. Usama Bin Laden , the most notorious terrorist and the
References: Associated Press (2002, January 18). Judge denies Court TV 's request to televise Moussaoui 's trial. . Wall Street Journal. Retrieved February 4, 2002 from the World Wide Web: http://interactive.wsj.com/archive/retrieve.cgi?id=sb1011394319936007480.djm Cohn, M. & Dow, D. (1998). Cameras in the courtroom. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc. Cummings, M. C., JR., & Wise, D. (2001). Democracy under pressure (9th ed.). New York: Harcourt College Publishers. Estes vs. Texas (1965). 381 U.S. 532.