Supreme Court: No cameras for health care arguments

The Supreme Court will decide whether Obama's landmark health care legislation, which requires that all Americans buy health insurance or pay a penalty, is unconstitutional.

WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court rejected requests from news organizations Friday for live, televised coverage of this month's historic arguments on President Barack Obama's health care overhaul, but agreed to release audio recordings of the proceedings on the same day.

The court will post audio files and transcripts on its website within two hours of the end of the proceedings on each of the three days set aside for argument, March 26-28.

The C-SPAN cable network said it would play back the arguments on a broadcast channel and on radio as soon as they are available.

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The justices have never allowed cameras inside the courtroom and decided not to make an exception for the health care case, despite what the court called "extraordinary public interest."

The statement said nothing about live coverage, but many news organizations, including The Associated Press, had asked the court to allow cameras into the courtroom to cover the proceedings.

The decision harks back to Bush v. Gore, the case that sealed George W. Bush's election as president in 2000. That was the first time the justices provided audio of the arguments on the same day after they turned away pleas to air the proceedings live in a case that riveted the nation.

Then, as now, C-SPAN and other organizations told the court they would broadcast the arguments live and in their entirety.

In subsequent years, the court would occasionally authorize same-day release of audio in high-profile cases.

But beginning in October 2010, the justices said they would no longer entertain requests for same-day release of audio of argument sessions. Instead, the court began posting audio files of all arguments on its website on Fridays. They made an allowance for the six hours of health care arguments, the most time set aside for any issue in more than 45 years.

In recent years, argument transcripts have been made available just a few hours later.

Reporters are not allowed to carry recorders or cameras into the courtroom.

[sandiegopete]

As usual the U.S. Supreme Court prefers to operate in the shadows. They do not want the people to see and hear the arguments and comments from the bench. Transcripts do not allow the reader to see the demeanor of the speaker nor the inflection of the comments.

Court proceedings in the United States are supposed to be public. In this day and age of electronic communications audio-visual transmission of court proceedings is a logical extension of a public hearing. Instead, the Supreme Court demands that only a privileged few be allowed to observe its proceedings.

With the increase in secret military tribunals and the movement of the courts toward eliminating public observance it seems our country is moving ever closer toward having a legal system like that which existed in the old Soviet Union.

[sandiegopete]

As usual the U.S. Supreme Court prefers to operate in the shadows. They do not want the people to see and hear the arguments and comments from the bench. Transcripts do not allow the reader to see the demeanor of the speaker nor the inflection of the comments.

Court proceedings in the United States are supposed to be public. In this day and age of electronic communications audio-visual transmission of court proceedings is a logical extension of a public hearing. Instead, the Supreme Court demands that only a privileged few be allowed to observe its proceedings.

With the increase in secret military tribunals and the movement of the courts toward eliminating public observance it seems our country is moving ever closer toward having a legal system like that which existed in the old Soviet Union.

[RobAla]

I look forward to seeing the transcripts, and I can't wait to see the Supreme Court knock down this horrible mandate. If the government can force every American to purchase a service, then it can force anything on Americans. There will be no end to an oppressive government on a once free people.

This is nothing like states requiring people to have auto insurance if they drive. With the states and auto insurance, this is a state establishing conditions on people participating in an activity - driving. With this horrible health care law, the one activity involved is BREATHING! This health care law is the worst disaster to come out of Washington in my lifetime.

[oldman47701]

they do not want public to see there on the career politicinas BUT..
they are going to let it be legal...they have friends in this NEW Fed Run dept...LIKE THE OTHERS already in place..GET IT...