ABSTRACT
Th e structures, functions, and procedures of our federal and state judicial systems can be confusing, complex, and even intimidating to the layperson, but journalists must be familiar with the basics as well as some of the intricacies. Today, most major news media outlets devote a substantial amount of coverage to judicial decisions and proceedings. Th ese include civil and criminal trials, criminal pretrial proceedings, and, frequently, appellate court rulings. Some of this increased coverage can be traced to a series of U.S. Supreme Court decisions favoring greater access of the public and the press to the judicial process.
