Durbin, Grassley Introduce Bill To Put Cameras In Supreme Court
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, introduced legislation today to require open proceedings of the Supreme Court to be televised. The bipartisan Cameras in the Courtroom Act would require the Supreme Court to permit television coverage of all open sessions of the Court, unless the Court decides, by a majority vote of the justices, that doing so would constitute a violation of the due process rights of one or more of the parties before the Court. U.S. Representative Gerry Connolly (D-VA-11) introduced the House companion legislation today.
“It’s time to put cameras in the Supreme Court so Americans can finally see arguments and decisions in cases that will affect them for generations to come. This bipartisan bill shines a light into the judicial branch of government so more than just a few hundred lucky Americans can watch proceedings in the Court’s historic halls,” Durbin said.
“The judicial branch has a massive impact on our daily lives and the lives of generations to come, yet few Americans get the chance to see our nation’s courts in action,” Grassley said. “Allowing cameras access to the federal and Supreme Courts would boost transparency and help Americans grow in confidence and understanding of the judiciary.”
“Our nation’s highest court is in desperate need of transparency and reform,” said Connolly. “The Supreme Court is not some mystical priesthood that can operate outside of the public view. It is a coequal branch of government and must be accountable to the American public. Our legislation strengthens efforts to restore trust in an institution that for too long has operated in the dark. It’s time for cameras in the courtroom.”
Historically, oral arguments and other sessions of the Supreme Court are only open to the public in person and on a first-come basis. Those not fortunate enough to get a seat in the Courtroom in the past have had to wait for secondhand accounts from reporters, read transcripts, or listen to audio recordings released later – along with the millions of other Americans who still ought to be able to see and hear these discussions on issues at the forefront of government. In May 2020, the Supreme Court held oral arguments remotely and made the live audio available for the public for the first time as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic – a successful process that has continued since returning to in-person proceedings. However, video of the proceedings remains unavailable.
The Cameras in the Courtroom Act only applies to open sessions of the Supreme Court – sessions where members of the public are already invited to observe in person, but often cannot, because there are a very limited number of unreserved seats in the Courtroom. Allowing public scrutiny of Supreme Court proceedings would produce greater accountability, transparency, and understanding of our judicial system.
U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) also co-sponsored the legislation.
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