Senators reintroduce bill to allow video cameras in Supreme Court

Supreme Court video cameras bill overview: 

• Who: A bipartisan group of senators led by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin, D-Ill. has reintroduced a bill that would allow Supreme Court proceedings to be televised live. 
• Why: The senators argue there is a growing public interest in following Supreme Court proceedings following major decisions last year, including one that overturned the constitutional right to have an abortion.
• Where: Supreme Court decisions affect Americans nationwide.

A bipartisan group of senators has reintroduced legislation that would allow for Supreme Court proceedings to be broadcast on live television. 

Called the Cameras in the Courtroom Act, the bill would  require the Supreme Court to permit live television coverage of all open sessions it conducts, so long as a majority voted that doing so would not violate any parties’ due process rights, reports Law360. 

The legislation has been brought by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin, D-Ill. and co-sponsored by Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, Sen Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., reports Law360. 

“As trust in the Supreme Court hovers near all-time lows, shining a light into the Supreme Court chamber would increase transparency, strengthen democracy, and help inform Americans of issues at the forefront of their government,” Sen. Durbin said, in a statement.

Durbin said Americans have become more interested in witnessing Supreme Court proceedings following major decisions last year, including one that overturned the constitutional right to get an abortion, reports Law360. 

Cameras in Supreme Court would be ‘victory for transparency,’ says Iowa senator

Grassley, meanwhile, said allowing cameras in Supreme Court proceedings would be a “victory for transparency” and increase the confidence Americans have in the high court. 

“The judicial branch has a massive impact on our daily lives and the lives of genera”ons to come, yet few Americans ever get the chance to see inside the legal process,” Grassley said, in a statement. 

The bill was given the green light by the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2021, however did not move forward in the full chamber at that time, reports Law360. 

The Supreme Court reportedly began audio-only livestreaming its proceedings in 2020 during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, and continued the practice after the high court returned to in-person sessions in October 2021. 

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court said it would be determining the constitutionality of the way the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is funded. 

Would you watch a live stream of Supreme Court proceedings? Let us know in the comments! 

Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:

• Biden administration reportedly demands TikTok be sold or face potential ban
• FTC to require social media companies to explain policies on fraudulent, deceptive advertising
• FCC fines illegal radio operator $2.3M
• 2 men indicted on charges of stealing password, accessing law enforcement database