Summary

In Estonia, there have recently been instances of behavioural acts on the level of interaction between the courts and the media, which could be interpreted in different ways: comments in the media during court proceedings by a close relative of a witness called to the court, a press conference by a person whose case was won in the court. And there are a number of other similar examples.

Which are, and what should be the relationship between the media and the administration of justice? The judges, journalists and press representatives that had come together on 25–26 April 2005 in Krakow for the Second Conference of European (Council of Europe) Judges attempted to find answers to these questions. The authors pass on to the reader the content of the conference and offer possible solutions for improving the relationship between the administration of justice and the media in Estonia. There is an analysis of the overlap between the courts and the media, answers are sought to questions as to during which stage of the proceedings and how the topic of the proceedings should reach the media, how the court decisions should be reflected in the media, whether it is appropriate for judges to explain to journalists the internal events of the court, how to regulate and improve relations between the court and the media, and whether to permit film cameras into the courts.