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Supreme Court to Post Same-Day Transcripts

By Jeralyn, Section Supreme Court
Posted on Thu Sep 14, 2006 at 11:14:27 PM EST
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This is progress. The Supreme Court has announced that beginning next month, it will post transcripts of oral arguments the same day they are argued. They will be available free on the court's website.

I hope televised oral arguments are next. While I am not in favor of televising criminal trials or pre-trial hearings without the consent of the defendant, I think appellate hearings consisting solely of legal arguments should be available to all. They are a tremendous educational tool.

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    Supreme Court to Post Same-Day Transcripts | 6 comments (6 topical)
    Re: Supreme Court to Post Same-Day Transcripts (none / 0) (#1)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Sep 14, 2006 at 11:10:14 PM EST
    Coupled with another recent innovation, the identification in the transcripts of which justice is asking a particular question, the court's new policy "creates the potential for more intelligent speculation by more people than just those who were in the courtroom about how a particular case is going to come out," Lazarus said.
    This is good news. Is it possible they are tying to balance the melodramatic "news" of CourtTV with something, shall we say, more real and dignified? Just a guess, but it is possible the Court thinks the press takes its First Amendment rights too far and a good argument before them could limit speculation because it doesn't serve a compelling public interest.

    Re: Supreme Court to Post Same-Day Transcripts (none / 0) (#5)
    by nolo on Fri Sep 15, 2006 at 02:36:43 PM EST
    My state supreme court now does streaming video of oral arguments, and archives the video as well. I have to tell you, though -- it's really weird to watch a playback of your own argument.

    Re: Supreme Court to Post Same-Day Transcripts (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Sep 15, 2006 at 06:16:00 PM EST
    Post Audio also I would hope that, at least now, in addition to posting the transcripts, the court could post the audio of the pleadings. I find that I understand the material better if I can hear the presentors while I am reading the material. Though I agree with the first comment, i.e. that we all can hope that a Video of the pleadings, perhaps only pointing to the Lawers, be avaiable A.S.A.P.

    Re: Supreme Court to Post Same-Day Transcripts (none / 0) (#3)
    by cpinva on Fri Sep 15, 2006 at 06:16:00 PM EST
    While I am not in favor of televising criminal trials or pre-trial hearings without the consent of the defendant.....
    why not? they are a matter of public record, and we, the taxpayer's, are paying for them. absent some compelling reason, aside from the shame and embarrasment involved, every matter ending up in a courtroom, paid for by............me, and you, and every other taxpayer, should be public, in my opinion. this whole concept of "closed" hearings" is, in my opinion, a crock. if it's important enough to end up in court, it's important enough to be available to the public. this would be the whole concept of transparent legal proceedings. "secret" proceedings rarely serve the public interest, they serve someone's private interest, either political or economic. i'm surprised that you, of all people, would advocate such a thing.

    Re: Supreme Court to Post Same-Day Transcripts (none / 0) (#4)
    by mpower1952 on Fri Sep 15, 2006 at 06:16:00 PM EST
    This certainly is good news. Considering how little time they are given for their oral arguments, this should make such interesting reading even for the non-lawyers, me included, among us. Let's enjoy this for a while and then on to C-Span!

    Re: Supreme Court to Post Same-Day Transcripts (none / 0) (#6)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Sep 15, 2006 at 11:12:00 PM EST
    Televising appellate arguments as educational? I'll say. In my first oral argument before the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago (not my first oral argument in an appellate case), I was subject to intense grilling by the panel. I was unaware that a high school class had entered the courtoon during the argument to observe. On my way out after the panel moved on to the next case, I overheard one student say that he would never be a lawyer if that's what they had to do.

    Supreme Court to Post Same-Day Transcripts | 6 comments (6 topical)