Senate judiciary leaders are urging the Supreme Court to release same-day audio recordings of all arguments heard before the high court.
Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) sent a letter June 29 to Supreme Court Justice John G. Roberts Jr. arguing for greater transparency in the court’s work. The court currently only releases audio at the end of the week.
“By releasing same-day audio recordings of all oral arguments, the court has a unique opportunity to open up its proceedings beyond the select few who will ever have the chance to be physically present during arguments,” they wrote. “Most importantly, the American public will grow in its appreciation of – and confidence in – the rule of law that safeguards our constitutional system.”
The court recently released same-day audio of arguments in Donald J. Trump, President of the United States, et al. v. Hawaii, et al, No. 17-965 (2018).
“By providing same-day audio for oral arguments in this case, the court demonstrated its technical ability to provide prompt disclosure and transparency to the American public,” the senators said in the letter. “We believe there is no reason why Americans should have to wait several days to hear the audio recordings of oral arguments in other matters before the court.”
The senators are asking the court to begin releasing same-day audio recordings of all arguments starting in the court’s new term in October.
“Headlines across the country demonstrate how deeply interested the American public is in the proceedings of our nation’s highest court,” they added. “Providing same-day audio recordings of all oral arguments would empower Americans to become more informed participants in our system of government.
“Transparency should be the rule, not the exception. We note that the court’s current practice of posting audio recordings at the end of each week stands in stark contrast to the practice of nearly every other federal circuit, some of which provide live streaming of oral arguments to listeners across the country and around the world. Our federal circuits have proven that modern technology makes audio recording – and even live audio streaming – minimally intrusive to the function of a courtroom.”
Grassley and Leahy have worked together on a number of bipartisan transparency efforts in the Senate, including legislation to allow TV cameras to cover federal court proceedings to advance the public’s understanding of and appreciation for the judicial branch of government.
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