A key feature of our justice system is that courthouses are public spaces and most court proceedings are open to the public. These buildings are designed with justice, security, and public access in mind. However, one important aspect often overlooked during planning is ensuring that the public knows what happens inside the courthouse.
The press is essential for sharing courthouse events with the public. Reporters, photographers, TV crews, and other media members often need quick access to information, interviews, hearings, and public events. However, allowing media inside a secure building can pose special challenges.
A well-planned courthouse press room can make this easier.
Not every courthouse requires a dedicated press room. However, larger courthouses and those serving major cities may frequently host higher-profile court proceedings. These courthouses can benefit greatly from having a dedicated press room.
Court proceedings are inherently public. The media, which today may include online sources as well as traditional print and television, helps inform the public about those proceedings and the judicial system. Providing an appropriate workplace for the press demonstrates that the local court jurisdiction recognizes the media as a legitimate participant in public access to the justice system.
A courthouse press room should not simply be thought of as another office.
Unlike a typical administrative workspace, the press room may need to support a wide range of activities. A reporter may need to conduct an interview, participate in a press conference, file a story, record video, review court documents, or monitor multiple proceedings—all within the same day.
This means the room should be designed as a flexible workspace that supports various media needs.
Depending on the size and mission of the courthouse, there are several features a well-designed press room should include.
Location
A press room should always be within public circulation, but the location should strike a balance between ease of access from the public lobby and proximity to the courtrooms, especially the larger courtrooms that are more likely to host high-profile proceedings that attract media attention.
A press room located too deep within the restricted portion of the courthouse can create unnecessary access-control issues. But locating it directly in a busy public lobby can create congestion, noise, and security concerns.
Locations to avoid would be in proximity to juror circulation, judges’ chambers, and restricted and secure paths of circulation. The goal of properly locating the press room is not to restrict legitimate media activity but to make legitimate access predictable and secure.
In addition, consider an exterior area of the courthouse plaza designated for video media.
Since the press room will be a designated space where journalists will work, conduct interviews, and cover major court proceedings, the room should have certain features.
Provide a media work area with tables, chairs, ample electrical outlets, charging stations, high-speed wireless internet, and wired data connections. Workstation partition panels need to be of sound-insulating finishes. Sufficient capacity should be provided for both regular courthouse reporters and increased media attendance during high-profile proceedings.
For media overflow, consider temporarily setting aside a public conference room or even an unused jury assembly or jury deliberation room.
Technology infrastructure is especially important. Provide dedicated internet capacity, multiple power connections, large information displays such as court docket information, and infrastructure for video conferencing. If permitted, infrastructure may also support the distribution of authorized courtroom audio or video feeds.
The room should include a designated interview or broadcast area with adequate space for cameras and lighting. Sound-absorptive ceiling or wall panels and doors with acoustical privacy seals (if multiple video booths are provided) help reduce noise when multiple reporters are working simultaneously.
A green screen doesn’t need to be provided, but the space to erect one should be included.
Additional features may include lockable equipment storage, a small counter with a sink, and nearby restrooms.
Overall, a well-designed courthouse press room should provide the flexibility, technology, and acoustics to support everyday reporting while also meeting the more special needs of media coverage for high-profile trials and major courthouse events.
In addition to providing adequate space for the press and media to work inside a courthouse, there is a need for an area for press briefings and support for large-scale media coverage. This area can be located inside or outside, depending on the courthouse's size, security needs, and frequency of media events.
Inside
An interior briefing area provides a controlled space for press conferences and official statements. It should be located near the lobby or press room, but away from busy courtroom entrances and major circulation paths. Consider using a flexible-type space, such as a community room or public conference room that can be arranged to accommodate briefings. The space should accommodate a lectern, speakers, cameras, reporters, and basic power, data, and audio connections.
Outside
An exterior briefing area is useful for courthouses that may frequently host high-profile trials and larger media events. It should be near the courthouse but away from public entrances, emergency access routes, and secure judicial or prisoner circulation areas. Considerations include space for cameras and reporters, power and lighting, a recognizable courthouse backdrop, and proximity to satellite or broadcast vehicles. Also provide bollards or other measures to protect the briefing area perimeter from unauthorized vehicles.
A best approach, if feasible, is to provide both an interior briefing area for routine events and an exterior media staging area for larger gatherings. This offers the most flexibility while helping keep media activity from disrupting courthouse operations.
Planning a press room early in the courthouse design process helps ensure that media needs are addressed without compromising security, circulation, or daily operations. When treated as an afterthought, the result may be an undersized space or a converted room that can’t accommodate cameras, broadcasting equipment, technology, or large media gatherings.
Early planning allows the press room to be strategically located within the public circulation zone, while remaining separated from judicial, jury, staff, and prisoner movement. Its relationship to the entrance, security screening, courtrooms, and exterior media areas can also be considered as part of the overall courthouse circulation plan.
Planning ahead makes it easier to provide vital infrastructure such as power, high-speed internet, data, and audio infrastructure, which can be difficult and expensive to add later. By considering the press room from the beginning, a courthouse can provide a flexible space that supports both typical media coverage and high-profile events.