---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I certainly think cameras ought to be in…"
description: "\"I certainly think cameras ought to be in courtrooms.\" — Walter Cronkite"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/002/walter-cronkite-1759_cameras_i-certainly-think-cameras-ought-to-be-in_2438549.png"
---

#  I certainly think cameras ought to be in courtrooms.

![“I certainly think cameras ought to be in courtrooms.” quote by Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/002/walter-cronkite-1759_cameras_i-certainly-think-cameras-ought-to-be-in_2438549.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/002/walter-cronkite-1759_cameras_i-certainly-think-cameras-ought-to-be-in_2438549.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/002/walter-cronkite-1759_cameras_i-certainly-think-cameras-ought-to-be-in_2438549.png)

> “I certainly think cameras ought to be in courtrooms.”

[Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Advocates for visual transparency and accountability in legal proceedings by allowing cameras in courts.

**In simple terms:** Cameras can increase openness in trials.

Key Takeaway

Support courtroom cameras for transparency.

Themes

justice transparency media accountability

Mood

thoughtful analytical

Type

policy opinion

When to use this quote

- courtroom reporting
- public oversight
- legal education

Key Concepts

legal reform public trust media ethics

Questions to Reflect On

- How might cameras affect witness testimony?
- What safeguards are needed for privacy?

A Different Perspective

Potential privacy concerns for jurors and witnesses.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Cameras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cameras/) [Cameras Ought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cameras-ought-466060/) [Certainly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certainly/) [Courtrooms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courtrooms-38704/) [Journalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalism/) [Ought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ought/) [Ought Courtrooms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ought-courtrooms-466062/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Think Cameras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-cameras-466064/)

## Related quotes

> [I think cameras ought to be everywhere the reporters are allowed to go. I think, furthermore, reporters and cameras ought to be everywhere that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-think-cameras-ought-to-be-everywhere-the-reporters-are-allowed-to/)

[Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/)

> [I think cameras should be in the courtroom, but they need to be managed properly. You need a judge to hold the line.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-clark/i-think-cameras-should-be-in-the-courtroom-but-they-need-to-be/)

[Marcia Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-clark/)

> [When you have a child victim, I don't think cameras should be in the courtroom, ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-grace/when-you-have-a-child-victim-i-don-t-think-cameras-should-be-in-the/)

[Nancy Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-grace/)

> [I didn't think of the cameras at the time of doing this](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myself-jeremy-renner/i-didn-t-think-of-the-cameras-at-the-time-of-doing-this/)

[Myself Jeremy Renner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myself-jeremy-renner/)

> [I think when the cameras are on him is when Coach Switzer is at his best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-aikman/i-think-when-the-cameras-are-on-him-is-when-coach-switzer-is-at-his/)

[Troy Aikman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-aikman/)

> [Banks and churches and courtrooms all depend on the appurtenances of theatre. On illusion. Banks, the illusion of stability and honourable dealings to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/banks-and-churches-and-courtrooms-all-depend-on-the-appurtenances-of/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Life as a barrister never was terribly real to me, and courtrooms were always a place of fantasy to me. They had nothing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mortimer/life-as-a-barrister-never-was-terribly-real-to-me-and-courtrooms-were/)

[John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mortimer/)

> [“Studying the rule of law won't make a great litigator. It is the act of trying cases in real courtrooms with real plaintiffs and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-deegan/studying-the-rule-of-law-won-t-make-a-great-litigator-it-is-the-act/)

[Marian Deegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-deegan/)

> [“Studying the rule of law won't make a great litigator. It is the act of trying cases in real courtrooms with real plaintiffs and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-deegan/studying-the-rule-of-law-won-t-make-a-great-litigator-it-is-the-act-2/)

[Marian Deegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-deegan/)

> [Courtrooms contain every symbol of authority that a set designer could imagine. Everyone stands up when you come in. You wear a costume identifying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/courtrooms-contain-every-symbol-of-authority-that-a-set-designer/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“It is a common architectural strategy to build courtrooms without windows, to enhance the effect of a chamber isolated from the everyday world, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-landay/it-is-a-common-architectural-strategy-to-build-courtrooms-without/)

[William Landay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-landay/)

> [Cameras help to minimize collateral damage, and very often, without a camera a missile cannot fire. Certainly, without a camera a drone can't function,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-butler/cameras-help-to-minimize-collateral-damage-and-very-often-without-a/)

[Judith Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-butler/)

> [I would have done well as a gypsy child, I think. A circus baby. I coulda played a great street urchin or ragamuffin. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/i-would-have-done-well-as-a-gypsy-child-i-think-a-circus-baby-i/)

[Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/)

> [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/)

[Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/)

> [For not only every democracy, but certainly every republic, bears within itself the seeds of its own destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-not-only-every-democracy-but-certainly-every-republic-bears/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More by Walter Cronkite

> [I'm a liberal, but I'm not biased. Seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-m-a-liberal-but-i-m-not-biased-seriously/)

[Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/)

> [I've gone from the most trusted man in America to one of the most debated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-ve-gone-from-the-most-trusted-man-in-america-to-one-of-the-most/)

[Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/)

> [I do think that the success, although still not complete... in the recognition of equal rights... to all Americans, regardless of color, creed and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-do-think-that-the-success-although-still-not-complete-in-the/)

[Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/)

> [Be kind to an old man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/be-kind-to-an-old-man/)

[Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/)

> [I learned early on that in the real world, the masks of tragedy and comedy adorn the proscenium of every life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-learned-early-on-that-in-the-real-world-the-masks-of-tragedy-and/)

[Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/)

> [It is clear that military force and our policy of preemption are alone insufficient to make us safe. But help is on the way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/it-is-clear-that-military-force-and-our-policy-of-preemption-are/)

[Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/)

> [In all my years as a news commentator I was never once, able to tell the truth, about anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/in-all-my-years-as-a-news-commentator-i-was-never-once-able-to-tell/)

[Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/)

> [I think people make way too much of ratings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-think-people-make-way-too-much-of-ratings/)

[Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/)

> [I grew my mustache when I was nineteen in order to look older. I never shaved it off even though it overran its usefulness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-grew-my-mustache-when-i-was-nineteen-in-order-to-look-older-i-never/)

[Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/)

> [I'm so tired of stories starting, 'Maud Jones was walking her dog down Broadway.' You've got to go over to the back page somewhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-m-so-tired-of-stories-starting-maud-jones-was-walking-her-dog-down/)

[Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/)

> [All through my life, I have never disguised my sentiments about politics in general.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/all-through-my-life-i-have-never-disguised-my-sentiments-about/)

[Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/)

> [The battle for the airwaves cannot be limited to only those who have the bank accounts to pay for the battle and win it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/the-battle-for-the-airwaves-cannot-be-limited-to-only-those-who-have/)

[Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/)

> [The successful landing on the moon, very probably, is the best story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/the-successful-landing-on-the-moon-very-probably-is-the-best-story/)

[Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/)

> [If, as they say, the threat of the hangman's noose has a powerful way of focusing one's attention, the same can be said of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/if-as-they-say-the-threat-of-the-hangman-s-noose-has-a-powerful-way/)

[Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/)

> [We must strengthen the United Nations as a first step toward a World Government, patterned after our Own Government with a legislature, executive and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/we-must-strengthen-the-united-nations-as-a-first-step-toward-a-world/)

[Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/)

[Explore all 210 Walter Cronkite quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/)

## More Cameras quotes

> [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/)

[Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/)

> [I have a way to photograph. You work with space, you have a camera, you have a frame, and then a fraction of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastiao-salgado/i-have-a-way-to-photograph-you-work-with-space-you-have-a-camera-you/)

[Sebastiao Salgado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastiao-salgado/)

> [I'm a film guy. I love it. When I read the screenplay, I knew that there would be no HD camera that could achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deon-taylor/i-m-a-film-guy-i-love-it-when-i-read-the-screenplay-i-knew-that-there/)

[Deon Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deon-taylor/)

> [To shift the structure of a sentence alters the meaning of that sentence, as definitely and inflexibly as the position of a camera alters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/to-shift-the-structure-of-a-sentence-alters-the-meaning-of-that/)

[Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/)

> [I can look around a room and tell you if there are hidden cameras or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-ash/i-can-look-around-a-room-and-tell-you-if-there-are-hidden-cameras-or/)

[Lauren Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-ash/)

> [There's nothing like the energy in a small comedy club room or a small theater when it's going really well. I can see everybody's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-carey/there-s-nothing-like-the-energy-in-a-small-comedy-club-room-or-a/)

[Drew Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-carey/)

> [When they took me to do the camera test for the vampire make up, after they put the prosthetic on, I went though the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-benz/when-they-took-me-to-do-the-camera-test-for-the-vampire-make-up-after/)

[Julie Benz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-benz/)

> [I like acting too much and it's too, I'm just too busy doing that and I'm too hungry for it, to get behind the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-weisz/i-like-acting-too-much-and-it-s-too-i-m-just-too-busy-doing-that-and/)

[Rachel Weisz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-weisz/)

> [“To all the secret writers, late-night painters, would-be singers, lapsed and scared artists of every stripe, dig out your paintbrush, or your flute, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/to-all-the-secret-writers-late-night-painters-would-be-singers-lapsed/)

[Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/)

> [Many times I've sat with a camera and another actor and seen all their fears and insecurities and struggles. You want to support them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-eccleston/many-times-i-ve-sat-with-a-camera-and-another-actor-and-seen-all/)

[Christopher Eccleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-eccleston/)

> [Don't ever for a minute make the mistake of looking down your nose at westerns. They're art - the good ones, I mean. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wayne/don-t-ever-for-a-minute-make-the-mistake-of-looking-down-your-nose-at/)

[John Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wayne/)

> [My personal interest in ordinary people is unlimited, but I am fascinated by the challenge of portraying true greatness adequately with my camera.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yousuf-karsh/my-personal-interest-in-ordinary-people-is-unlimited-but-i-am/)

[Yousuf Karsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yousuf-karsh/)

> [Since a camera is something too heavy for women and initially made for men, you need a good cameraman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitra-farahani/since-a-camera-is-something-too-heavy-for-women-and-initially-made/)

[Mitra Farahani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitra-farahani/)

> [I'm closer to being happy. I'm doing things that make me happy. In football I loved to practice and I loved to play, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-williams/i-m-closer-to-being-happy-i-m-doing-things-that-make-me-happy-in/)

[Ricky Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-williams/)

> [I'm not so much in the future as always in the present. The future always takes care of itself. What I do now with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-mekas/i-m-not-so-much-in-the-future-as-always-in-the-present-the-future/)

[Jonas Mekas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-mekas/)

[Browse all 2,666 Cameras quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cameras/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I certainly think cameras ought to be in courtrooms.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Walter Cronkite"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-certainly-think-cameras-ought-to-be-in-courtrooms/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Cameras"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-certainly-think-cameras-ought-to-be-in-courtrooms/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/002/walter-cronkite-1759_cameras_i-certainly-think-cameras-ought-to-be-in_2438549.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/002/walter-cronkite-1759_cameras_i-certainly-think-cameras-ought-to-be-in_2438549.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/002/walter-cronkite-1759_cameras_i-certainly-think-cameras-ought-to-be-in_2438549.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I certainly think cameras ought to be in courtrooms.” — Walter Cronkite",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Walter Cronkite",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I certainly think cameras ought to...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-certainly-think-cameras-ought-to-be-in-courtrooms/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-certainly-think-cameras-ought-to-be-in-courtrooms/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
