Hays County Judge explains he livestreams his court to promote transparency

HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) – Hays County District Court Judge Tanner Neidhardt has started livestreaming his court to promote transparency. 

“I don't think that the courtroom should be a black box. And that's what we're doing by livestreaming – we're opening it up,” Neidhardt told KXAN. 

“Whether it's a mother who wants to know what we're doing on fentanyl cases, [a] parent who can't get away because they have children, [or] a student at school – they can't access our courts in reality. So what we're doing here by livestreaming, is giving them the opportunity to see what is happening,” he continued. 

Following Neidhardt’s first livestream on July 1, some were critical of his decision. Hays County District Attorney Kelly Higgins said people in the room were unaware of cameras and did not consent to a recording or a livestream. 

The livestream also captured moments leading up to a trial involving the alleged sexual assault of a child. The stream was removed before the victim took the stand and the trial began.

“This office objected to the live-stream, citing statutory protections for child victims. [The Hays County DA’s office] filed a motion to cease the live-stream and remove the video from the internet,” Higgins said previously in a statement. 

On Tuesday, Neidhardt livestreamed criminal docket calls in his 483rd district court. This time, a message stating “The 483rd court is livestreaming proceedings today,” was projected on screens across the courtroom. 

Before the proceedings began, Neidhardt took the time to explain why he felt recording his court was necessary. 

“The [livestream] is about letting people see what we’re doing – and I hope [it brings] confidence back to our court,” he said. “I believe in transparency, you can hold me accountable. This is what I'm doing. I’m trying to make this so people will see it.” 

Neidhardt also referenced the Texas Constitution, which states, “All courts shall be open.”

Neidhardt suggested to the court he never intended to hide any cameras during the July 1 livestream. During his statement, he showed the court that a camera during that initial livestream sat directly in front of him in plain sight.

He told KXAN that he wants everyone to be aware of the process.

“We're now putting a big notice in the courtroom that says notice we are livestreaming,” Neidhardt said. “I want it to be all out there in the open. That's the whole idea here.”