Groups representing lawyers and judiciary officials over the weekend issued statements against permitting live broadcasting of court procedures.
On Friday, amendments conditionally allowing for the broadcast of trials passed a third reading in the opposition-controlled legislature.
Judiciary officials and organizations representing lawyers on Friday and over the weekend issued statements saying live broadcasts would infringe on personal privacy and hinder a person’s right to a fair trial.
Photo: Taipei Times
The Taiwan Chapter of the International Association of Women Judges said in a statement that legislators passed the amendments hastily, without full discussion, nor public input, and without supporting measures.
The association said it had joined with the Judicial Reform Foundation and other organizations in a statement prior to the third reading in which it called for more review of the amendments.
While the groups said they understand the desire to enhance transparency and openness in court proceedings, such a change should first undergo comprehensive study and review to ensure live broadcasting trials would not affect a person’s right to a fair trial.
“We must proceed with caution,” the association said.
The Taiwan Law Society said in a statement that the current system already allows members of the public to observe proceedings, which are recorded by court stenographers, while rulings are publicly available online.
“In comparison, the amendments would require live broadcasts of court proceedings. That would violate the rights of defendants, witnesses and experts called to provide testimony, as well violate a person’s right of portrait and right of personality,” it said.
The Taiwan Society of Forensic Medicine said that the broadcasts would hinder prosecutors and defense attorneys for ascertaining facts in a trial.
When expert witnesses are called in to provide information, they must do so by based only on collected evidence, and through objective evaluation. However, live broadcasts would put unnecessary pressure on expert witnesses, opening them up to media scrutiny and possible personal attacks from the public, it said.
Their testimony, especially on sensitive matters, would be more guarded when broadcasting live, it said.
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