TULSA, Okla. — A few dozen people gathered outside the county courthouse, rallying for cameras to be allowed in Oklahoma courtrooms.
Led by The Focal Point of Accountability, the general message was a camera would add a layer of transparency for all, from officials and judges to the folks fighting a case.
Advocates shared stories of 'injustice' across the legal system. Speakers said cameras in the courtroom would add a layer of transparency for officials and judges who make life-changing decisions for countless families.
“We’re not going to go anywhere unless there’s change, and this is just the beginning," said Rosario Chico, who has been without her children for more than three years. “There’s a lot of us that are not scared because it’s what we have to do. It’s our children that are on the line, it’s our loved ones that are on the line."
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Lawmakers, including State Representative JJ Humphrey and Senator Dana Prieto, were also in attendance. They voiced support for the protest and pointed to cases that could have been helped had a camera been present.
That included child custody cases with the Oklahoma Department of Human Services.
Oklahoma law leaves it up to individual judges to allow or deny cameras in courtrooms.
Advocates say this push isn't just for Tulsa County courtrooms, but for those all across the state.
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