Commonwealth v. Winfield

The issue presented in this case is whether a judge erred in denying a documentary film maker’s motion for access to an audiotape “room recording” of a trial made by a court reporter where an official transcript of the trial had been prepared and provided to the film maker. We conclude that, where the court reporter’s room recording is not the official record of the *673trial and is not filed with the court or referenced in the court file, the film maker is not entitled to a copy under the public’s right of access to criminal proceedings guaranteed by the First Amendment to the United States…