Two senators are giving a bipartisan push this week for the Supreme Court to release audio of oral arguments on the same day they’re given in the courtroom.
Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, a Republican, and Sen. Patrick Leahy, a Democrat, sent a joint letter to the Chief Justice on Friday.
The senators cited the Supreme Court’s recent decision to provided same-day audio for the arguments in Trump v. Hawaii as proof the Supreme Court has the capability to comply with their request.
The letter also noted that several lower courts already implement this policy, with some even live-streaming the proceedings. The senators argued that these cases demonstrate that the necessary technology is “minimally intrusive to the functioning of a courtroom.”
“Transparency should be the rule, not the exception,” the senators wrote.
By changing its procedures, Mr. Grassley and Mr. Leahy argued that the Supreme Court will be more accessible beyond “the select few” who attend the high-profile cases. This, in turn, would increase the American people’s “appreciation” and “confidence” in the rule of law.
• Gabriella Muñoz can be reached at gmunoz@washingtontimes.com.
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