Public is zero for seven at the Supreme Court

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

The public is zero for seven at the Supreme Court this term.

That tally doesn’t involve the justices’ votes on cases. It’s the number of times that the court has been asked (seven) and agreed (zero) to release same-day audio recordings of oral arguments in important cases.

Yes, audio recordings. In the age of Twitter and video chats, the court apparently finds the notion of allowing the public to hear audio of its proceedings overly intrusive.

We’re not talking television cameras here, folks. The only question is whether news organizations will be able to use tapes of oral arguments -- tapes that are being made in any event and will be released eventually -- on the same day the arguments take place.

The latest rejection came when the court turned down a request by C-SPAN, ABC, CNN and Fox News in a case, to be argued Monday, about whether a public law school can deny funding to a student group that requires its members to adhere to its religious beliefs.

If there is a rational basis, as the lawyers like to say, for refusing to release the audio in this case, I’d like to hear it.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postpartisan/2010/04/public_is_zero_for_seven_at_th.html

[scandal 951]

The only question is whether news organizations will be able to use tapes of oral arguments -- tapes that are being made in any event and will be released eventually -- on the same day the arguments take place.

So the tapes will be released. But our instant gratification society insists on them immediately? Good for the court to ignore our videogame 24hour cable culture.