A Day in the Life of Birmingham's Court Reporter
There is often a moment when I step into a courtroom where everything appears to halt, and every gaze shifts toward me. It resembles those classic scenes from vintage Western films when the protagonist enters a saloon, and the jukebox abruptly stops playing. The most piercing eyes glaring at me usually belong to the individual seated in the dock behind a transparent barrier—the defendant or the convicted person.
I am not a mind reader, but it is not difficult to interpret what is likely racing through their thoughts based on the anxious expression etched on their face. The unspoken question is clear: "Who are you, and what are you doing here?" Since I do not typically dress like a lawyer or a police officer, the realization dawns quickly. In mere seconds, without exchanging a single word, I have likely made a new enemy.
The Odd Dynamic of Courtroom Reporting
This is an unusual dynamic, but it comes with the territory of being the criminal court reporter in the nation's second-largest city. Of course, many individuals involved in criminal activities do not care whether I am present or not. Their lives may have spiraled far beyond the point of being concerned about what someone writes about them, with their self-respect, unfortunately, long gone.
However, for some, my presence represents a crushing blow. It is one thing to have been caught breaking the law and to face punishment for it; to some extent, they might have mentally prepared for those consequences. But the realization that the rest of the world is about to learn about their actions? That can be overwhelmingly dreadful.
The shame, the end of any double-life they might have been leading, the exposure of lies told to others—and, of course, the inevitable comments on social media platforms. I guarantee that many of the people I have written about have been more worried about what strangers on social media think of their actions than their actual sentences.
The Inevitable Aftermath and Public Questions
Recently, I overheard a man on trial for rape whisper to his lawyer that he did not want to give evidence at his own trial "if the journalist is here." He did testify in the end and was found guilty. After a court story is published, the inevitable emails arrive. Complaints range from "You've breached my privacy" and "You had no right" to concerns about mental health impacts, safety risks from including addresses, and demands to remove content or images.
Common refrains include: "You didn't approach me first for permission," "You've plastered this all over social media," and worries about the comments sections. My personal favourite is: "I'm going to be seeking legal action." The first such message I received hit me like a truck, making me fret, "Did I really do something wrong?" But over time, such complaints have become a regular occurrence.
Responses must be somewhat robotic in tone yet informative. People are entitled to complain, but it does not mean they have grounds to do so, and the vast majority do not. Fundamentally, it boils down to a lack of understanding that journalists have a legal right to be in court and report on proceedings, and that doing so serves the public interest.
Balancing Justice and Journalism
For anyone who believes court stories do not act as a deterrent, I respectfully disagree based on the emails I have received over the years. I am here to report the most significant criminal court cases for Birmingham Live and provide answers for the public. I also aim to uncover the more unusual cases that might otherwise slip under the radar.
There is a balance to be struck. Personally, I am interested in true crime, so this job aligns well with my interests. However, one cannot ever become too excited about unearthing a "good story." The justice system is intended to rehabilitate offenders, and the reality is that my writing about them may initially slow that process down. Yet, it does not block it altogether, and if we do not cover court cases, the sad truth is that, in most proceedings, no one will.
