I went to court last Friday, August 19, to follow the R Kelly trial at the Everett Dirksen Federal Courthouse. Because of Covid restrictions they limited the number of spectators to 30. They also limited the number of courtroom artist to two. As in 2. WTF is that all bout? So, as I was number 33 in line I was directed to the overflow courtroom where video monitors were set up. The benches had blue painters tape ‘X’s on the benches to separate spectators. The monitors had split screen so the view of proceedings was further limited.
The video closed circuit of the proceedings was unlike the recent coverage of the Johnny Depp/Amber Heard trials or the trial of George Floyd’s murder, in that those trials had close ups of the witness giving testimony. This video showed half of the entire courtroom and as such, you were pretty much unable to tell who was who, who was speaking, and without any facial expressions.
Therefore I choose to cover the journalists  and spectators viewing the case.
min court, spectators are advised to refrain from commentary, which could include gasps. Some were removed according to a journalist I spoke with. In the overflow room, there were no court officials and hence, commentary would percolate up from time to time. In fact, as spectators were still filing in, before the judge and jurors filed in, two women behind me got into a slightly heated exchange over their differing opinions. One wisely chose to move to the other side of the room.
it seems it’s a first come basis as to who will get in to court and I have to file for press credentials to be able to draw in courtroom where the proceedings actually take place. Until that all falls in place, I’ll have to sketch in the overflow room.
Pitt Artist Pens and fountain pen on mulberry paper.
 
  
  
 
     I’m  not sure why I’m being limited to 6 images in this post, until I can get WordPress aminstration to explain the problem, you’ll have to go to my next post to finish this interupted post.    