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Release: Connolly Sponsors Bill to Allow Cameras in U.S. Supreme Court Proceedings

Washington, DC, December 9, 2011
Congressman Connolly has introduced bipartisan legislation to permit television coverage of the U.S. Supreme Court to give the public more access to the high court's deliberations. Read more.

Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA) has introduced bipartisan legislation to permit television coverage of the U.S. Supreme Court to give the public more access to the high court’s deliberations.

Connolly’s Cameras in the Courtroom Act of 2011 – H.R. 3572 --  would permit television coverage of all open sessions of the U.S. Supreme Court unless a majority of justices decided that allowing coverage of a particular case would violate the due process rights of a party appearing before the court.
“Currently, cameras are barred from the Supreme Court, and the court allocates only 50 seats to view open proceedings,” Connolly said. “This limited seating suggests an elitism and propensity of secrecy unworthy of the third branch of our government.  Cameras in the courtroom would bring a higher degree of transparency and accountability to the high court, and would give the public better access to deliberations on the important issues that come before the court.”
Connolly added, “We live in a time where information transfer from across the globe is near instantaneous, where a hand-held cell phone can provide world-wide video conferencing, yet access to momentous deliberations in the Supreme Court on cases like Bush v. Gore, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, Kelo v. City of New London, and the upcoming debate on the health insurance reform law is limited to a few dozen citizens.” 
Connolly is currently seeking cosponsors for his legislation, which has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee.  Already, several congressmen have cosponsored the Connolly bill, including Judge Ted Poe (R-TX), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).
Connolly’s introduced his bill in the House a day after a comparable bill – S. 1945 – was introduced in the Senate by Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Dick Durbin (D-IL).
“This is not a Democratic or Republican bill,” Connolly said.  “It is a bill to bring sunshine into the high court’s deliberations and give the public direct access to the arguments pro and con that come before the Supreme Court on important constitutional issues that affect every American.  It would provide our citizens with a clear view of the court’s proceedings, unfettered by the filter of the media and other observers.”
Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA) has introduced bipartisan legislation to permit television coverage of the U.S. Supreme Court to give the public more access to the high court’s deliberations.
Connolly’s Cameras in the Courtroom Act of 2011 – H.R. 3572 --  would permit television coverage of all open sessions of the U.S. Supreme Court unless a majority of justices decided that allowing coverage of a particular case would violate the due process rights of a party appearing before the court.
“Currently, cameras are barred from the Supreme Court, and the court allocates only 50 seats to view open proceedings,” Connolly said. “This limited seating suggests an elitism and propensity of secrecy unworthy of the third branch of our government.  Cameras in the courtroom would bring a higher degree of transparency and accountability to the high court, and would give the public better access to deliberations on the important issues that come before the court.”
Connolly added, “We live in a time where information transfer from across the globe is near instantaneous, where a hand-held cell phone can provide world-wide video conferencing, yet access to momentous deliberations in the Supreme Court on cases like Bush v. Gore, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, Kelo v. City of New London, and the upcoming debate on the health insurance reform law is limited to a few dozen citizens.” 
Connolly is currently seeking cosponsors for his legislation, which has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee.  Already, several congressmen have cosponsored the Connolly bill, including Judge Ted Poe (R-TX), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).
Connolly’s introduced his bill in the House a day after a comparable bill – S. 1945 – was introduced in the Senate by Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Dick Durbin (D-IL).
“This is not a Democratic or Republican bill,” Connolly said.  “It is a bill to bring sunshine into the high court’s deliberations and give the public direct access to the arguments pro and con that come before the Supreme Court on important constitutional issues that affect every American.  It would provide our citizens with a clear view of the court’s proceedings, unfettered by the filter of the media and other observersCongressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA) has introduced bipartisan legislation to permit television coverage of the U.S. Supreme Court to give the public more access to the high court’s deliberations
Connolly’s Cameras in the Courtroom Act of 2011 – H.R. 3572 --  would permit television coverage of all open sessions of the U.S. Supreme Court unless a majority of justices decided that allowing coverage of a particular case would violate the due process rights of a party appearing before the court.
“Currently, cameras are barred from the Supreme Court, and the court allocates only 50 seats to view open proceedings,” Connolly said. “This limited seating suggests an elitism and propensity of secrecy unworthy of the third branch of our government.  Cameras in the courtroom would bring a higher degree of transparency and accountability to the high court, and would give the public better access to deliberations on the important issues that come before the court.”
Connolly added, “We live in a time where information transfer from across the globe is near instantaneous, where a hand-held cell phone can provide world-wide video conferencing, yet access to momentous deliberations in the Supreme Court on cases like Bush v. Gore, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, Kelo v. City of New London, and the upcoming debate on the health insurance reform law is limited to a few dozen citizens.” 
Connolly is currently seeking cosponsors for his legislation, which has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee.  Already, several congressmen have cosponsored the Connolly bill, including Judge Ted Poe (R-TX), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).
Connolly introduced his bill in the House a day after a comparable bill – S. 1945 – was introduced in the Senate by Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Dick Durbin (D-IL).
“This is not a Democratic or Republican bill,” Connolly said.  “It is a bill to bring sunshine into the high court’s deliberations and give the public direct access to the arguments pro and con that come before the Supreme Court on important constitutional issues that affect every American.  It would provide our citizens with a clear view of the court’s proceedings, unfettered by the filter of the media and other observers.”
Click here to read the text of the bill.
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