The Dispatch and The Rock Island Argus

Photo: AP Photo/The Register-Mail, Nick Adams, File FILE - In this Aug. 29, 2011 file photo, Nicholas Sheley, right, is escorted to the Knox County Courthouse in Galesburg, Ill., for the start of his first trial for murder. (AP Photo/The Register-Mail, Nick Adams, File)

In January, the Illinois Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice Thomas Kilbride of Rock Island, ruled that still and audio/video cameras would now be allowed in the state's courtrooms for media coverage of hearings and trials. In announcing the decision, Justice Kilbride said too many people believe that the courts function like they see on television, and it is time that residents of Illinois know how the court system really works.

Because media in the Quad-Cities have been allowed in the Iowa courtrooms for decades, the Illinois 14th judicial circuit was chosen as the place in Illinois where cameras would first be introduced into the courts. The media and court personnel, under the direction of Chief Judge Jeffrey O'Connor, have been working together closely on implementation.

The first big test will be the March trial in Whiteside County of alleged serial killer Nicholas Sheley. Sheley is accused of killing eight people in Illinois and Missouri in 2008. He was convicted last year of beating a Galesburg man to death.

This is exactly the kind of trial we believe the high court had in mind when it decided to open up the courtroom. Residents can finally see how the process works at a murder trial in comparison to what they see in 30 minute snips on TV.

No sooner were media coverage requests filed than both Sheley's defense attorney, Whiteside County State's Attorney Gary Spencer and the state Attorney General's office filed objections to the cameras. The prosecution argued heavy media coverage will make it harder to pick an impartial jury in subsequent trials in the same murder spree. We were disappointed that the office of Attorney General Lisa Madigan would support such a motion given her oft repeated support of transparency. Sheley's attorney, Jeremy Karlin, also said he wanted cameras barred unless the judge granted a change of venue outside of Whiteside County.

The collective Quad-Cities media responded, arguing that the courtroom should remain open to cameras. There was no other alternative.

The combined reaction of both the prosecution and defense sets a dangerous precedent for future courtroom coverage. If cameras are banned as a result, it leaves the impression for other courts around the state that if the prosecution and defense attorneys agree, the courtroom should be closed to cameras. That is far from what we believe the Supreme Court intended.

Sheley is already the most recognized defendant in this region in the last decade. Coverage of this upcoming trial isn't going to change that. The media is still going to cover the trial whether cameras are allowed or not. Sheley's photo will still be shown. The only difference is that the public will either be able to see what he looked like in the courtroom, what he said and how and he others reacted, or they will see the same worn-out photos that the media have been using of him.

As we said, this is exactly the kind of trial we believe the Supreme Court wanted the public to be able to view when it approved cameras in the courtroom. A change of venue will be granted – or not – regardless of whether or not cameras are allowed. Cameras will not change one thing.

Justice Kilbride and the rest of the Illinois Supreme Court made a huge positive statement on behalf of us all when they opened the door to cameras. We hope Chief Justice O'Connor to allow this positive and valuable effort to continue with coverage of this trial.