The following program is a special presentation from World Radio.

Last Monday, renowned courtroom sketch artist William Hennessy Jr. died suddenly on his

67th birthday. For more than 40 years, Hennessy sketches of scenes from courtrooms where cameras

aren't allowed brought visuals to broadcast

in print media outlets. Now that faithful camera is shuttered. Legal correspondents Mary Reichert

and Jenny Ruff visited Hennessy in his Virginia studio a couple years ago for season three of the

Legal Docket podcast. So in memory of Bill Henessey, here's an encore presentation of that visit.

This episode first aired on September 7th, 2022.

The way I generally would work is something like that

and then quickly throw in some base color.

Okay. throw in some base color. And then, you know, it highlights.

Bill Hennessy is a courtroom artist.

In many jurisdictions, cameras are not permitted in courtrooms, the Supreme Court, for example.

So news media often rely on sketch artists

like Hennessy to illustrate the courtroom proceedings. Hennessy uses a mixed medium of colored

pencil pastel and watercolor. And he says Chief Justice John Roberts isn't an easy assignment.

Well, I mean, he's a tough one too.

You know, he's kind of that handsome guy.

You know, you've got to get it right.

You're trying to capture that moment and that expression and that exchange,

but you also got to get their likeness.

Details matter and change over time.

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