The Indiana Supreme Court should just decide one way or the other whether to allow cameras in the courtroom instead of continuing to tease Hoosiers with the issue.

The court approved an 18-month pilot program allowing cameras in certain court- rooms, but only if all involved agreed. Only six cases ended up being involved, because in many cases defendants and their lawyers objected. All the judges involved in the pilot program gave positive reactions, and the Supreme Court justices are now said to be “reviewing the results.”

Now the state high court has announced it will let a documentary maker film inside a Lake County juvenile court, giving supporters of cameras in court new hope. “I see this as another good sign moving forward,” said Dan Byron, general counsel for the Indiana Broadcasters Association. The broadcasters and the Hoosier State Press Association have led the fight to get still cameras and TV cameras into courts.

They have a vested interest, of course. Courtrooms produce riveting human drama, and that can translate into more readers and viewers. But they are also pursuing their mission to keep the public informed.

Trials are meant to be public. At one time that required people to actually attend or to depend on the accounts of writers hired to watch the proceedings. Technology has evolved to allow people to follow the proceedings even if they're not physically present. The criminal justice system just needs to keep up with technology.

Justices at least seem aware of the need. Cameras have been allowed inside the Indiana Supreme Court and the Indiana Court of Appeals, and both courts have offered Webcasts of their hearings since 2001.

The strongest arguments against the cameras are that they could intimidate witnesses and jurors or that some in the proceedings might have a tendency to “play to the camera.” But other states have long allowed cameras, and they seem able to handle the potential negative side effects.

And the potential good so outweighs the potential bad. If people have a better understanding of what goes on in courtrooms, they are more likely to have faith in the system, and that faith is an essential part of achieving justice. It's time to bring Indiana courts into the modern era.