Appeals Court Bars Sketch Art at Gitmo Argument

We know that courts have been shy to accept cameras in the courtroom. But apparently even the quiet-as-a-church-mouse sketch artist isn't welcome, at least at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

Veteran courtroom sketch artist Bill Hennessy Jr., with his portfolio and tackle box of art supplies, was turned away last week when he showed up to sketch oral arguments in a Guantanamo detainee case, Kiyemba v. Bush, the Blog of Legal Times reports.

Hennessy reportedly assumed that there simply wasn't room for him that day because reporters took up two rows, so he secured his gear and returned with a notepad and paper, then sketched from memory later.

One of his sketches aired on Fox news, which the BLT notes did not sit well with at least one of the court's panel members. The court clerk called Hennessy to complain, and Hennessy was left baffled.

Apparently there are no court policies on sketch artists, and it's up to the panel judges whether to admit them. On the panel were Judges A. Raymond Randolph, Karen LeCraft Henderson, and Judith Rogers.

Hat tip Bill Pollak via Twitter.