Time for TV in the Supreme Court

[Commentary] Televise the Supreme Court’s proceedings.

C-Span has been broadcasting Congress since 1979. Anyone with a wireless connection can watch live hearings in state courts and even some federal appellate courts across the country. While there are concerns that television broadcasts could infringe litigants’ due process rights in trials, that is not an issue in the Supreme Court, where the arguments are about the law itself.

Sen Charles Grassley (R-IA) has been pushing for cameras in the federal courts, and particularly the Supreme Court, since 1999. He introduced his latest bipartisan bill in March. No matter its fate, one thing is certain: While the current Supreme Court will continue to resist, its proceedings will one day be televised. The justices could save everyone a lot of trouble by letting cameras in now so all Americans could see the nine people whose decisions deeply affect their lives.