Today’s DJ has retired judge Laura Halgren’s Let the sunshine in: a bipartisan push for transparency in federal courts — “The Sunshine in the Courtroom Act and related bills aim to increase public understanding and trust in the federal judiciary by allowing media coverage of court proceedings, balancing the need for transparency with the protection of due process and privacy rights.” She concludes:
It is difficult to imagine many cases where the broadcasting of appellate arguments would not be appropriate. The Second and Ninth Circuits currently record oral arguments and post them after the fact. They also will entertain media applications to record or broadcast proceedings. If all appellate hearings, including those of the U.S. Supreme Court, were recorded and broadcast, certainly the public would better understand the array of rulings we read about every day. Allowing cameras in the courtroom will shine the light on the federal courts, thereby increasing public awareness and confidence in the judiciary. Let us hope this bipartisan effort succeeds.