SPRINGFIELD, IL (IRN) - News cameras and recorders have been in Illinois courts for one year now. With the pilot program growing in a number of counties, state Supreme Court spokesman Joe Tybor says that this is a good sign for the future but not a guarantee the practice will become permanent.

“There is no time table on it. It’s uncertain. The court is interested in seeing how this progresses in various counties,” Tybor said.

Tybor says so far, 28 of the state’s 102 counties allow microphones and cameras in the courtroom.

He says of the existing courtrooms with cameras, “the experience in those counties that the court has been getting, through regular monthly reports, has been quite good.”