Section 15-24-6 - General.
15-24-6. General. (a) Expanded media coverage must be conducted in conformity with applicable statutes, rules, and caselaw.
(b) Nothing herein shall alter the obligation of any attorney to comply with the provisions of the Rules of Professional Conduct governing trial publicity.
(c) Except as otherwise provided by these rules, electronic recording by moving camera, still camera, and audio tape, and broadcasting will be permitted of all judicial proceedings in the courtroom during sessions of the Supreme Court.
(d) There shall be no audio or video recording or broadcast of conferences between the attorneys and their clients, co-counsel, or justices.
(e) There shall be no audio or video recording or broadcast of in-chambers court conferences.
(f) There shall be no focusing on and photographing of materials on counsel or law clerk tables or the judicial bench.
(g) The courtroom shall not be used to conduct interviews before or after the judicial proceedings.
(h) No media film, videotape, still photograph or audio reproduction of a judicial proceeding shall be admissible as evidence in any subsequent or collateral proceeding, including any retrial or appeal thereof, except by order of the Supreme Court.
(i) The quantity and type of equipment permitted in the courtroom shall be subject to the discretion of the court within the guidelines set out in these rules.
(j) Notwithstanding the provisions of these rules, the court, upon written application, may permit the use of equipment or techniques at variance with these rules, provided the application for variance is made at least ten days prior to the scheduled judicial proceeding. Variances may be allowed by the court without advance application or notice if all counsel and parties consent.
(k) It shall be the responsibility of the media to settle disputes among media representatives, facilitate pooling where necessary, and implement procedures that meet the approval of the court prior to any coverage and without disruption to the court. The media coordinator will coordinate media coverage and act as liaison between the media and the court.
(l) The court reserves the right to obtain, for historical purposes, a copy of any audio recordings, visual tape or film recordings or published photographs made of its proceedings. The media coordinator will be responsible for providing the court with this duplicate copy.
(m) All expenses incurred in expanded media coverage of the judicial proceedings, including duplication of materials to provide to the court, shall be the responsibility of the news media.
(n) The rights provided for herein may be exercised only by persons or organizations that are part of the news media.
(o) Under all circumstances, the court retains the discretion to exclude or terminate electronic coverage or broadcast of its proceedings. This discretion is not to be exercised in an effort to edit the proceedings, but where deemed necessary in the interests of justice or where these rules have been violated. This rule does not otherwise limit or restrict the first amendment rights of the news media to cover and report judicial proceedings.
(p) The court shall retain ultimate control of the application of these rules over the broadcasting, recording or photographing of its proceedings. Any decision made by the court or Chief Justice for the court under these rules is final and not subject to appeal.
(q) These rules are designed primarily to provide guidance to media and courtroom participants and are subject to withdrawal or amendment by the court at any time.
(r) Failure to comply with the court's rules or orders regarding coverage and broadcast is punishable by sanction or contempt proceedings pursuant to South Dakota law.
Source: Supreme Court Rule 01-08.