Oregon court rules & publisher orders

UTCR 3.180 — ELECTRONIC RECORDING AND WRITING

2026 Uniform Trial Court Rules — Chapter 3 · physical PDF page 7–11 · 2026

3.180 ELECTRONIC RECORDING AND WRITING
(1) As used in this rule:
(a) “Electronic Recording” includes video recording, audio recording, and still
photography by cell phone, tablet, computer, camera, tape recorder, or any
other means.  “Electronic recording” does not include “electronic writing.”
(b) “Electronic Writing” means the taking of notes or otherwise writing by
electronic means and includes but is not limited to the use of word processing
software and the composition of texts, emails, and instant messages.
2026 UTCR 3.8
(c) “Electronic Transmission” means to send an electronic recording or writing,
including but not limited to transmission by email, text, or instant message;
live streaming; or posting to a social media or networking service.
(2) Except with the express prior permission of the court, and except as provided in
subsection (3) of this rule, a person may not:
(a) Electronically record in any area of the courthouse under the control and
supervision of the court unless permitted by Supplementary Local Rule (SLR)
pursuant to subsection (11)(a) of this rule;
(b) Electronically record any court proceeding;
(c) Electronically transmit any recording from within a courtroom during a
proceeding;
(d) Engage in electronic writing within a courtroom;
(e) Electronically transmit any electronic writing from within a courtroom during a
proceeding; or
(f) While remotely observing or participating in a proceeding, electronically
transmit any electronic writing directly and specifically to a witness until the
witness is excused by the court.
(3) Subsections (2)(d), (e), and (f) of this rule do not apply to attorneys or to agents of
attorneys unless otherwise ordered by the court.
(4) (a) A request for permission to engage in electronic recording or writing must be
made prior to the start of a proceeding.  No fee may be charged.
(b) The granting of permission to any person or entity to engage in electronic
recording or writing is subject to the court’s discretion, which may include
considerations of the need to preserve the solemnity, decorum, or dignity of
the court; the protection of the parties, witnesses, or jurors; or whether the
requestor has demonstrated an understanding of all provisions of this rule.
(c) If the court grants all or part of the request,
(i) The court shall provide notice to all parties, and electronic recording or
writing thereafter shall be allowed in the proceeding, in any courtroom or
during a remote proceeding, consistent with the court’s permission.
(ii) The court shall permit one video camera, one still camera, and one
audio recorder in the courtroom, and it may permit additional cameras
and electronic recording in any courtroom or during a remote proceeding
consistent with this rule.
2026 UTCR 3.9
(iii) The court may prescribe the location of and the manner of operating
electronic equipment within a courtroom.  Artificial lighting is not
permitted.
(iv) Any pooling arrangement made necessary by limitations on equipment
or personnel imposed by the court is the sole responsibility of the
persons or entities seeking to electronically record.
(v) The court will not mediate disputes.  If multiple persons or entities
seeking to electronically record are unable to agree on the manner in
which the recording will be conducted or distributed, the court may
terminate any or all such recording.
(5) Except as otherwise provided in this rule:
(a) The court shall not wholly prohibit all electronic recording of a court
proceeding unless the court makes findings of fact on the record setting forth
substantial reasons that establish:
(i) A reasonable likelihood that the electronic recording will interfere with
the rights of the parties to a fair trial or will affect the presentation of
evidence or the outcome of the trial; or
(ii) A reasonable likelihood that the costs or other burdens imposed by the
electronic recording will interfere with the efficient administration of
justice.
(b) “Wholly prohibit all electronic recording” means issuing an order prohibiting all
recording of a proceeding by all persons.  The court’s denial of a particular
request under the factors in section (4)(b) does not constitute an order
prohibiting all recording by all persons and does not require findings of fact on
the record, even if the person whose request is denied is the only person who
has requested permission to record a proceeding.
(6) The court has discretion to limit electronic recording of particular components of
the proceeding based on one or more of the following factors:
(a) The limitation is necessary to preserve the solemnity, decorum, or dignity of
the court or to protect the parties, witnesses, or jurors;
(b) The use of electronic recording equipment interferes with the proceedings;
(c) The electronic recording of a particular witness would endanger the welfare of
the witness or materially hamper the testimony of the witness; or
(d) The requestor has not demonstrated an understanding of all provisions of this
rule.
2026 UTCR 3.10
(7) Notwithstanding any other provision of this rule, the following may not be
electronically recorded by any person at any time:
(a) Proceedings in chambers.
(b) Any notes or conversations intended to be private including but not limited to
attorneys and judges conferring at the bench and conferences involving
attorneys and their clients.
(c) Dissolution, juvenile, paternity, adoption, custody, visitation, support, civil
commitment, trade secrets, and abuse, restraining, and stalking order
proceedings.
(d) Proceedings involving a sex crime, if the victim has requested that the
proceeding not be electronically recorded.
(e) Voir dire.
(f) Any juror anywhere under the control and supervision of the court during the
entire course of the trial in which the juror sits.
(g) Recesses or any other time the court is off the record.
(8) For the purpose of determining whether this rule or other requirements imposed by
the court have been violated, or to ensure the effective administration of justice, a
person engaged in electronic recording under this rule must, upon request and
without expense to the court, provide to the court, for in camera review, an
electronic recording in a format accessible to the court.  The copy may be retained
by the court and may be sealed if necessary for the further administration of
justice.
(9) If a person violates this rule or any other requirement imposed by the court, the
court may order the person, and any organization with which the person is
affiliated, to terminate electronic recording or electronic writing.
(10) This rule does not:
(a) Limit the court’s contempt powers;
(b) Operate to waive ORS 44.510 to 44.540 (media shield law); or
(c) Apply to court personnel engaged in the performance of official duties.
(11) A judicial district may, by SLR:
(a) Designate areas outside a courtroom and under the control and supervision
of the court, including hallways or entrances, where electronic recording is
2026 UTCR 3.11
allowed without prior permission, unless otherwise ordered in a particular
instance.
(b) Adopt procedures to obtain permission for electronic recording or electronic
writing.
(c) SLR 3.181 is reserved for any SLR adopted under this subsection.

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Captured 2026-10-18T22:31:10.991953+00:00 · Published 2026 chapter effective 2026-08-01; apply with separately indexed amending Chief Justice Orders

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