Some jurisdictions allow courtroom sketch artists to sketch while the trial is taking place. In general, most courtroom artists should be prepared to attend every part of the trial in order to record as much of it as possible. Some trials may last a few days or less, while others may last as long as several months. In fact, some courtrooms even have designated seats for courtroom sketch artists. Thinking ahead like this can allow the artist to get the best seat possible, with a clear view of all the action. In some cases, depending on the rules and regulations of a courtroom or jurisdiction, a courtroom sketch artist may need to get prior permission to do this type of work.Ī courtroom sketch artist will usually arrive several minutes before the start of a trial. Simply put, a courtroom sketch artist draws courtrooms scenes during trials. Cameras are sometimes banned from court trials of a particular nature, for instance, such as high profile cases or cases involving minors. In many jurisdictions, judges may decide to put a ban on cameras in the courtroom for nearly any reason. Some jurisdictions, for example, still do not allow cameras of any kind in their courtrooms. Even with the advancements of modern photography, there is still a need for courtroom sketch artists. By this time, cameras were much smaller and less distracting than previous models. It wasn’t until the late 20th century that many jurisdictions began allowing photographers into their courtrooms. They were also large obtrusive contraptions that many key courtroom players – such as jury members and witnesses – found very distracting. This is mostly due to the fact that early cameras were ultimately ineffective at capturing movement. These types of sketches were used during the infamous Salem Witch Trials of the 17th century, for instance.Īfter cameras became more commonplace, sketches were still used to depict the goings-on of most courtroom trials. Courtroom sketch art is an artistic representation of courtroom environments and trial proceedings.Ĭenturies ago, when cameras weren’t invented – or at least as common as they are now – courtroom sketches were the only way that many people could get a glimpse of what happened during a court trial.