Defendant starts a digital recording (~$30 at WalMart).

Can the judge prohibit him from making a recording of court proceedings? What is the authority?

A judge in our court ran into this exact issue. He is unavailable at the moment but thought I would pass along what he found in his research. He found that in civil trials it is forbidden (I think it can only be done with the express permission of the court and all parties - but not sure). In criminal trials it is discretionary, and apparently allowed unless the trial court or the local administrative judge issues a notice/order of the court. In this case the judge posted a notice on his coutromm doors until he could get it in the local administrative rules.

Seems to me it would be the court's discretion what to allow, just like cameras.