Senate Committee Approves Bill To Put Cameras in Supreme Court

The Senate Judiciary Committee approved a pair of bills Thursday that would dramatically expand video coverage of federal court trials and other proceedings while putting Supreme Court arguments on camera for the first time (article available here).

Both bills have bipartisan support. It is the first time such legislation has cleared the Senate committee in more than a decade

On Wednesday, the head of the federal courts’ administrative office sent Durbin and Grassley a letter opposing the bill to provide ongoing video and audio access to trial and appeals courts. Judge Roslynn Mauskopf said changes to the court’s permanent rules should go through a process for notice and comment, rather than be imposed by Congress.