Rule 1.150. Photographing, recording, and broadcasting in court
(a) Introduction
The judiciary is responsible for ensuring the fair and equal administration of justice. The judiciary adjudicates controversies, both civil and criminal, in accordance with established legal procedures in the calmness and solemnity of the courtroom. Photographing, recording, and broadcasting of courtroom proceedings may be permitted as circumscribed in this rule if executed in a manner that ensures that the fairness and dignity of the proceedings are not adversely affected. This rule does not create a presumption for or against granting permission to photograph, record, or broadcast court proceedings.
(b) Photographing, recording, and broadcasting prohibited
Except as provided in this rule, court proceedings may not be photographed, recorded, or broadcast. This rule does not prohibit courts from photographing or videotaping sessions for judicial education or publications and is not intended to apply to closed-circuit television broadcasts solely within the courthouse or between court facilities if the broadcasts are controlled by the court and court personnel.
GR 16. COURTROOM PHOTOGRAPHY AND RECORDING BY THE NEWS MEDIA
(a) Video and audio recording and still photography by the news media are allowed in the courtroom during and between sessions, provided
(1) that permission shall have first been expressly granted by the judge; and
(2) that media personnel not, by their appearance or conduct, distract participants in the proceedings or otherwise adversely affect the dignity and fairness of the proceedings.
(b) The judge shall exercise reasonable discretion in prescribing conditions and limitations with which media personnel shall comply.
文 / 劉龍珠律師
11月9號賈躍亭在華盛頓州西雅圖法庭針對顧穎瓊申請限制令（Restraining Order）開庭審理，劉龍珠律師在事先申請法官允許後，對庭審全過程進行了錄影併發布給中國媒體。很多中國讀者非常關心一個問題：美國的法庭都能錄音錄影嗎？
一、絕大多數法院不允許現場錄音錄影
原因是：媒體和公眾的聲音極有可能影響司法獨立。
最著名的案例就是1994年OJ Simpson殺妻案庭審過程中，法院允許媒體現場直播。因此各個媒體站在各自不同的角度，在1994年到1997年間，基於庭審現場，對公眾直播了2200多個現場新聞片段。這一司法實踐在後來被絕大多數法律界人士（包括劉龍珠律師本人）予以批評，認為沒有受過專業法學院教育的公眾觀點，很大程度上影響了司法的獨立性。
劉龍珠律師自己在代理月子中心案期間，遭遇一件事情：因社會公眾對月子中心案的關注度太火熱，每次劉律師代表中國孕婦產婦出庭時，都有至少20名記者參與旁聽庭審過程，有的記者，如Bloomberg 彭博商業週刊的記者，甚至是不遠幾千英里從紐約專程飛來洛杉磯旁聽劉龍珠律師為中國孕婦產婦辯護。有一次庭審過程中，法警懷疑一個記者偷拍了照片，而記者予以否認。在法警的強制下，記者被迫交出了手機和照相機，經法警檢查，確認裡面沒有照片才予以放行。如果當時記者確實偷拍了照片，很有可能會因“擾亂法庭秩序”而被法警逮捕。
二、不同州的法庭規則不一樣
1、加州法院
2017 California Rules of Court
Rule 1.150. Photographing, recording, and broadcasting in court
(a) Introduction
The judiciary is responsible for ensuring the fair and equal administration of justice. The judiciary adjudicates controversies, both civil and criminal, in accordance with established legal procedures in the calmness and solemnity of the courtroom. Photographing, recording, and broadcasting of courtroom proceedings may be permitted as circumscribed in this rule if executed in a manner that ensures that the fairness and dignity of the proceedings are not adversely affected. This rule does not create a presumption for or against granting permission to photograph, record, or broadcast court proceedings.
(b) Photographing, recording, and broadcasting prohibited
Except as provided in this rule, court proceedings may not be photographed, recorded, or broadcast. This rule does not prohibit courts from photographing or videotaping sessions for judicial education or publications and is not intended to apply to closed-circuit television broadcasts solely within the courthouse or between court facilities if the broadcasts are controlled by the court and court personnel.
加州法庭規則第1.150條明確規定：司法系統要負責保證司法過程公正公平，不論是民事案件還是刑事案件，都要保證法庭氣氛莊嚴、肅靜。在保證公平和司法程式不受影響到情況下，由法官來決定是否可以進行拍照、錄音、錄影或廣播。
除了用於法學教育、用於法庭之間的同步閉路傳播之外，一般情況下法庭不允許拍照、錄音、錄影或廣播。
2、華盛頓州法院
Washington State Court Rules
GR 16. COURTROOM PHOTOGRAPHY AND RECORDING BY THE NEWS MEDIA
(a) Video and audio recording and still photography by the news media are allowed in the courtroom during and between sessions, provided
(1) that permission shall have first been expressly granted by the judge; and
(2) that media personnel not, by their appearance or conduct, distract participants in the proceedings or otherwise adversely affect the dignity and fairness of the proceedings.
(b) The judge shall exercise reasonable discretion in prescribing conditions and limitations with which media personnel shall comply.
在法官事先明確表示允許的情況下，可以進行錄影、錄音或拍照。媒體人員的衣著和行為不能干擾到法庭的工作，也不能使訴訟參與人分心。媒體人員應遵守法庭規定，對此法官有自由裁量權。
三、申請拍照或錄影，刑事案件比較困難
原因是刑事案件的審判結果對多人、多個家庭的命運有著重大影響，因此法官會盡量杜絕一切可能存在的干擾。
2015年7月，在洛杉磯華人區曾發生過一起震驚全美的刑事案。從越南來美定居二十多年的華裔移民、49歲的母親杭萊楊 (Lai Yeung Hang，音譯)，因生患重病、來日無多，擔心自己17歲的未成年兒子將來生活沒有著落，因而開槍將其打死。此案發生後，在華人社群引發巨大關注，當嫌犯被用擔架抬到法庭受審的時候，多名記者在庭審結束後，聯名向法官陳述該案在華裔社群反響巨大，請求法官許可對嫌犯拍一張靜態照片，法官權衡再三，最後也只允許記者拍嫌犯脖子以下的部份，不允許拍面部。可見法官對刑事案件的嚴謹程度。