Media coverage of court proceedings with audio and/or visual recording devices is known as Extended Media Coverage (EMC), which is permitted on a case-by-case basis.
Note, the prohibition on the use of cameras and audio recording devices in Illinois courtrooms by the public otherwise remains in effect.
On January 1, 2026, the Illinois Supreme Court Extended Media Coverage Policy took effect for the Circuit Courts of Illinois (M.R. No. 2634), extending the policy to courtrooms across the state.
Key points of the updated policy:
A media requestor must file a request with the clerk at least seven (7) days before the proceeding. Notice must also be provided to the court media liaison, all counsel of record, and any parties appearing without counsel.
If requested by the judge, the Office of the Chief Judge (OCJ) will review the media credentials and make a recommendation if the requestor fits the definition of news media.
The parties involved in the case have an opportunity to object to the EMC request. Objections will be provided back to the requestor, OCJ, counsel, and parties appearing without counsel. See below.
The judge presiding over the proceeding will decide if the EMC is granted. The judge may issue an order based on the papers alone, may request additional information, or may even request oral arguments.
Judges have broad discretion in EMC-related matters but must state the reason for any order denying or limiting EMC. Absent good cause, EMC is prohibited in the following case types: juvenile, probate, guardianship, dissolution of marriage, family law, parentage, adoption, mental health, evidence suppression, orders of protection, and trade secrets.
The media requestor will serve as coordinator to provide pooled coverage for other news media.
To look up EMC orders granted by judges
For orders entered by a judge who granted an EMC for a proceeding and which may include additional restrictions and requirements, look up case information on the Clerk's website.
How Media Organizations Can Submit a Request for EMC
Requests
A media requestor must file a request with the clerk no less than seven (7) days in advance of the time of the proceeding by emailing the EMC Request Form to:
- the Clerk of the Circuit Court at emc@cookcountycourt.com
- the Office of the Chief Judge Court media liaison (“OCJ”) at extended.mediacoverage@cookcountyil.gov
- counsel,
- and parties appearing without counsel.
OCJ will forward the request to the judge presiding over the proceeding.
EMC procedures for an approved court proceeding
Approval or Denial
If the presiding judge in the case approves Extended Media Coverage, the media requestor must:
- Determine whether any other media organizations are interested in participating in Extended Media Coverage of the court proceeding.
- Establish a news media pool to cover the proceedings.
- Arrange for distribution of all video, photographs, and audio recordings obtained during the proceeding to the news media
- Be responsible for communicating with the court EMC media liaison of the proceeding, if the request is granted.
The court’s media liaison team will facilitate the following:
- The Clerk of the Circuit Court will docket the request and forward a copy to the court’s media liaison team. The media team will ensure that the judge presiding over the case is notified of the request (and the Presiding Judge)
- The judge assigned to the case will rule on the request.
DENIAL OF AN EMC REQUEST IS FINAL AND NOT SUBJECT TO APPEAL
Self-represented parties and witnesses are entitled to free assistance from the Clerk if they wish to object to EMC
Objections
The Supreme Court's Policy and the Circuit Court's general administrative order give parties and witnesses the right to object to extended media coverage.
- All Objections by Parties and Objections by Witnesses must be filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court at least three (3) days before the commencement of the proceeding by emailing the Clerk of the Circuit Court at emc@cookcountycourt.com.
Parties appearing without counsel and witnesses shall be entitled to the assistance of the Circuit Court Clerk in providing copies of their objections to extended media coverage to all counsel currently of record, parties appearing without counsel, the media coordinator, the judge and the court media liaison.
The above is general information only and is not comprehensive. Parties and witnesses who wish to object to extended media coverage are directed to read the Policy for Extended Media Coverage in the Circuit Courts of Illinois (effective January 1, 2026).