Topic: Courtroom Procedure

During a January 13, 2009, court hearing regarding a municipal ordinance, a judge questioned Michael Allison about possessing a recording device as he entered the room. After Allison confirmed he had a recorder but stated it was powered off, the judge read from the Illinois eavesdropping statute and declared he had committed a Class 1 felony. The judge claimed Allison violated her personal right to privacy by attempting to record an open court hearing without her explicit consent.