Cameras to Be Allowed During Sentencing Remarks in Jersey Court

Judges’ sentencing remarks in Jersey’s Royal Court will now be filmed and broadcast in a move aimed at boosting transparency in the justice system.

The change, which came into effect today (3 December), brings Jersey into line with reforms introduced in England in 2022. It means the public will be able to see and hear the moment a judge delivers a sentence to a convicted offender.

The decision was approved by Jersey’s Bailiff, Mr Robert MacRae, and will allow media organisations to record sentencing remarks in a limited number of high-profile cases. Court officials have stressed that filming will remain rare and only permitted where a case is deemed to be of significant public interest.

Only the judge will appear in the recordings, with defendants, jurats, lawyers, victims, witnesses and court staff all excluded from view. The footage may be broadcast on television and radio, as well as shared online.

In most cases, the change will apply only to hearings before the Superior Number, where a judge sits alongside at least five jurats and has the power to impose prison sentences of more than four years.

Mr MacRae said the move would help the public better understand how sentencing decisions are made and reinforce confidence in the courts. He said broadcasting remarks was an important step in strengthening open justice and ensuring the legal process remains as transparent as possible.