The Senate Judiciary Committee held an executive business meeting on televising U.S. Supreme Court proceedings. The committee considered a bi-partisan bill that will require the Supreme Court to televise its proceedings.
S. 1945 would permit television coverage of open sessions of the Court unless a majority of the justices votes to block coverage in specific cases where due process rights of the parties appearing before the court might be violated.
In a December 6, 2011 Judiciary Subcmte. hearing on the issue, Senators raised concerns that the law might provoke a constitutional showdown over separation of powers. At least one amendment is expected during today's business meeting.
Both lawmakers and media organizations, including C-SPAN, have asked the Court to televise the 5 ½ hours of oral argument on the President Obama’s health care law scheduled for the end of March.