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Connolly, Quigley Request Details from Circuit Courts on Livestreaming of Oral Arguments

Washington, December 9, 2021

Today, Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Government Operations, and Congressman Mike Quigley (D-IL), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, sent letters to the Circuit Executives of each of the 13 federal Circuit Courts requesting information on the Courts’ livestreaming of oral arguments and their plans to continue the us live video and/or audio.  Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Circuit Courts have allowed the livestreaming of oral arguments in order to ensure the public has real-time access to courtrooms in spite of social distancing protocols.

“We write to request information regarding the Circuit's ongoing and continued live streaming of proceedings. As you know the livestreaming of court proceedings has broad bipartisan support in Congress. There is a strong support to ensure this level of transparency continues,” said the Members in their letter.

“Live audio and or video streaming has allowed for a greater level of transparency within our Judicial branch and livestreaming during the pandemic has been a demonstration of the courts’ ability to give greater access to the public,” the Members concluded.

In their letter Connolly and Quigley requested detailed responses to the following questions:

  1. Has your court established live audio streaming of arguments during the COVID-19 pandemic?
  2. And what issues if any have you faced in implementing this policy?
  3. Would your court consider allowing live audio streaming of arguments post-pandemic?
  4. Would your court consider allowing the live video streaming of arguments post-pandemic?
  5. What help would your court require to enable live audio and or video streaming of arguments post-pandemic?

Connolly and Quigley are longtime proponents of federal courtroom transparency. In June, the Members reintroduced Connolly’s Cameras in the Courtroom Act, which would ensure transparency and accountability in the judicial branch by televising open proceedings before the United States Supreme Court.

Full versions of today’s letters are available here:
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