1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Sunshine in the Courtroom Act of 2017 . 2. Federal appellate and district courts (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Presiding judge The term presiding judge means the judge presiding over the court proceeding concerned. In proceedings in which more than one judge participates, the presiding judge shall be the senior active judge so participating or, in the case of a circuit court of appeals, the senior active circuit judge so participating, except that— (A) in en banc sittings of any United States circuit court of appeals, the presiding judge shall be the chief judge of the circuit whenever the chief judge participates; and (B) in en banc sittings of the Supreme Court of the United States, the presiding judge shall be the Chief Justice whenever the Chief Justice participates. (2) Appellate court of the united states The term appellate court of the United States means any United States circuit court of appeals and the Supreme Court of the United States. (b) Authority of presiding judge To allow media coverage of court proceedings (1) Authority of appellate courts (A) In general Except as provided under subparagraph (B), the presiding judge of an appellate court of the United States may, at the discretion of that judge, permit the photographing, electronic recording, broadcasting, or televising to the public of any court proceeding over which that judge presides. (B) Exception The presiding judge shall not permit any action under subparagraph (A), if— (i) in the case of a proceeding involving only the presiding judge, that judge determines the action would constitute a violation of the due process rights of any party