Federal courts proscribe television broadcasting or videotaping a trial. Testimony can be prerecorded to present a videotape at trial instead of having a witness appear, and depositions have been videotaped for purposes of discovery and to see how a witness reacts. Videotaping of confessions and lineups also is increasing. Videotaped testimony can reduce the length of trials since there would be no interruptions while a judge rules on admissibility and no delays caused by waiting for witnesses unable to appear. Some writers have suggested that videotapes of trials or testimony could constitute an instant record, reducing the time consumed in preparing the transcript for the record on appeal. If there were videotape inventories of cases ready for trial, delays caused by calendar breakdowns would be eliminated. Videotaping could reduce the abuse of witnesses by decreasing the number of times a witness had to appear to once, for videotaping. Minimal standards governing applications of video technology should cover equipment, accuracy of the record, security and storage, editing, and makeup and lighting. The most extensive use of video techology will be to prerecord testimony and present it on a television monitor at trial. Thus, concern should be directed at the effect such videotapes have on dignity and decorum at a trial, especially as this is perceived by the jury. Some tests indicate that fears of a 'circus' atmosphere are unwarranted and that participants tend to act more dignified when they are aware of a television camera. The paper includes 13 footnotes.