Exceptional Court Coverage

[Commentary] C-Span asked Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. this week to let the network televise the upcoming Supreme Court arguments in the case challenging the health care law. The justices have not permitted TV cameras in their courtroom, but this landmark case, which will affect every American, should surely be an exception to that rule.

During a hearing at the Senate Judiciary Committee last month, Justice Antonin Scalia shared his view, as Politico summarized, that “the media could do a better job of presenting to the public information that is relevant to the cases and the decisions” of the court. One way he could help ensure that would be to support allowing the public to watch oral arguments. While the court provides transcripts of arguments on its Web site and posts audio recordings weekly, those are not equivalent to seeing justices ask questions and the lawyers respond live. For a case this important, the justices would serve the public and the court by allowing cameras at the arguments.