Congress, Politics, Books
and American History

C-SPAN televises its first Supreme Court Senate confirmation hearing with gavel-to-gavel coverage, with the nomination of Sandra Day O'Connor.

C-SPAN launches '' America & the Courts,'' a weekly program focusing on the Judiciary with an emphasis on the Supreme Court.

Court permits C-SPAN to originate live interview and call-in programs from its Press Room.

First letter to Chief Justice Rehnquist requesting camera coverage of Supreme Court.

Participated in demonstration of potential camera coverage in Supreme Court.

C-SPAN airs first live telecast of a federal court proceeding from a military appeals court.

C-SPAN is instrumental in advocating and implementing a 4-year experiment with the Judicial Conference to test television coverage of civil cases before two federal Courts of Appeals and six District Courts.

Letter to Chief Justice Rehnquist requesting camera coverage of Bush v. Palm Beach County Canvassing Board. Court agreed to release audio only.

Letter to Chief Justice Rehnquist requesting live audio release of Bush v. Gore. Received early audio release, not live.

Sent letter requesting early audio release of Grutter v. Bollinger and Gratz v. Bollinger. (Affirmative action cases) Court agreed.

Requested early audio release of McConnell v. FEC. (Campaign finance rules) Court agreed.

Justice O'Connor participates in C-SPAN's "Student and Leaders" with students at Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C.

Justice Thomas participates in C-SPAN's "Student and Leaders" with students at Banneker High School.

Requested early audio release in the following cases. Rasul v. Bush and Al Oday v. United States; Cheney v. US District Court; Hamdi v. Rumsfeld; Rumsfeld v. Padilla. Court agreed.

Requested early audio release of Roper v. Simmons. (Execution of juveniles) Denied.

Requested early audio release of Van Orden v. Perry and McCreary County v. ACLU of Kentucky. (Separation of church and state) Denied.

Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) introduces legislation to televise the Supreme Court Statement. Read 

C-SPAN airs live a "Constitutional Conversation" moderated by Tim Russert with Justices Breyer, O'Connor and Scalia. They discuss the role and operation of the Court, among other subjects. Watch 

First letter to Chief Justice Roberts offering C-SPAN capabilities to provide gavel-to-gavel camera coverage of Supreme Court.

Requested early audio release of: Ayotte v. Planned Parenthood of Northern New England (abortion) and Rumsfeld v. Forum for Academic and Institutional Rights ("don't ask, don't tell" policy). Agreed.

C-SPAN CEO Brian Lamb testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the issue of cameras in the Supreme Court. Watch | Read  

U.S. House passes provisions of Sunshine in the Courtroom Act Statement. Read  

Requested audio release of tape of the investiture of Justice Alito. Denied.

Requested early audio release of voting rights act cases. League of United Latin v Perry; Travis County, Texas v Perry; Jackson v Perry; GI Forum v Perry. Denied.

Requested early audio release of Hamdan v Rumsfeld. (Military Tribunals) Court agreed. Press Release 

Sens. Grassley (R-IA) and Schumer (D-NY) introduced Sunshine in the Courtroom Act Press Release 

Letter to Chief Justice Roberts requesting simultaneous release of all oral arguments beginning with 2006 term. Denied.

C-SPAN's Brian Lamb interviews Chief Justice John Roberts in one of his first television interviews since joining the court. Transcript | Watch 

Requested early audio release of Gonzalez v. Planned Parenthood and Gonzalez v. Carhart (abortion ). Court agreed. Press Release 

C-SPAN airs live a discussion between Justice Scalia and Nadine Strossen, President of the ACLU, called " The State of Civil Liberties." Watch 

Sent letter requesting early audio release of Parents Involved v. Seattle School District No.1 and Meredith v. Jefferson County Board of Education (affirmative action). Court agreed.

Requested early audio release of oral arugments in Parents Involved v. Seattle School District No. 1 and Meredith v. Jefferson County Board of Education (Affirmative action) Court agreed. Press Release 

Sent letter requesting early audio release of Davenport v. Washington Education Association and Washington v. Washington Education Association (Union dues). Denied.

Introduction of the Sunshine in the Courtroom Act of 2007 in the 110th Congress, co-sponsored by Sens. Grassley (R-IA), Leahy (D-VT) and Schumer (D-NY).

Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) introduces cameras in the Supreme Court legislation. Watch 

Sent letter requesting early audio release of Rita v. United States and Claiborne v. United States (Federal sentencing guidelines). Denied

Rep. Ted Poe (D-TX/2nd), a former judge, delivers a floor speech about opening the court to cameras. Watch 

Sens. Specter and Cornyn discuss cameras in the courts with Justice Anthony Kennedy during Judiciary Committee hearing. Sen. Specter questions Justice Kennedy directly. Watch | Sen. Cornyn remarks on his experience with cameras. Watch | Watch Hearing  

Justices Kennedy and Thomas comment on cameras in the court before a House Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on the FY08 Supreme Court budget. Watch Justice Kennedy | Watch Justice Thomas  

Sent letter requesting early audio release of FEC v. Wisconsin Right to Life and McCain v. Wisconsin Right to Life (Campaign Finance). Denied.

Sent letter requesting camera coverge of 3rd circuit CBS vs. FCC hearing on Television Indecency Standards. Received permission for audio only.

Aired camera footage of Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals 8/15/07 oral argument in two cases on the government's warrantless wiretapping program. Al-Haramain Islamic Foundation, Inc. v. Bush Hepting v. AT&T 

Aired same-day audio of CBS vs. FCC hearing on Television Indecency Standards.

C-SPAN President Susan Swain tesitifies before House Judiciary Committee on H.R. 2128, Sunshine in the Courtroom Act of 2007. Watch | Read Testimony 

Sent letter requesting early audio release of Medellin v. Texas (Presidential Powers) and Stoneridge Investment v. Scientific-Atlanta (Securities Fraud) Denied.

Sent letter requesting early audio release of Boumediene v. Bush & Al Odah v. U.S. (Guantanamo Detainees) Court Agreed. Press Release 

9th Circuit Court of Appeals opinion in Al-Haramain Islamic Foundation v. Bush cites C-SPAN's request to record oral argument and date footage was televised. See footnote 5, page 14969.

Senate Judiciary Committee votes in favor of sending S. 344 to the full Senate for a vote. The bill would require television coverage of the Supreme Court's open sessions unless a majority of justices vote to block cameras for a particular case.

Request for same-day audio release of oral argument in Baze v. Rees (Lethal Injection). Court agreed. Press Release 

Request for same-day audio release of oral argument in Crawford v. Marion County (Voting Rights) denied.

NY Times Editorial on Cameras in the Supreme Court.

Request denied for same-day audio release of oral argument in United States v. Ressam ("Millenium Bomber" case).

Request granted for same-day audio release of oral argument in District of Columbia v. Heller (DC Gun Law). Press Release 

The Senate Judiciary Committee passes the "Sunshine in the Courtroom Act" which allows cameras in federal court rooms with a vote of 10-8 with one member abstaining. The bill is referred to the full senate for consideration. Press Release 

Rochester Democrat and Chronicle Editorial on allowing cameras in the Supreme Court.

Request for same-day audio release of oral argument in Kennedy V. Louisiana (Death Penalty for Rape) denied.

Request for same-day audio release of oral argument in Altria Group, Inc. v. Good (Marketing of "Light" Cigarettes) and Winter v. Natural Resources denied. Request Letter 

Request for same-day audio release of oral argument in FCC v. Fox Television Stations (Television Indecency Standards) denied. Request Letter | Story 

Request for audio release of oral argument in Pleasant Grove City v. Summum (Free Speech) denied.

Request for audio release of oral argument in Phillip Morris USA Inc. v. Williams (Supreme Court-State Court authority) denied.

Request for same-day audio release of oral argument in Ashcroft v. Iqbal (Can President's Cabinet be sued for constitutional violations by subordinates) denied.

Request for audio release of oral argument in Caperton v. A.T. Massey (Should elected state judges recuse themselves) denied.

Joint request for same-day audio release of oral argument in Northwest Austin Municipal Utility District Number One v. Holder 4-291 granted. Request Letter | Article  

Judge Sotomayor questioned about cameras in the court during her confirmation hearings.Sen. Specter on Opinion Poll | Sen. Specter on Cameras in the Court | Sen. Kohl on Cameras in the Court  

British Supreme Court decides to televise events from inside the court's three chambers. Article  

Boston Herald op-ed by Wayne Woodlief: ''Televised justice would be for all'' Article  

Request for Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (Campaign Finance). Agreed.

Requests for audio releases of oral arguments in Jones v. Harris Associates (investment fund fees), Graham v. Florida (life sentence for minor), and Sullivan v. Florida (life sentence for minor). Denied.

Request for request for same-day audio release of oral argument in Holder v Humanitarian Law Project. Denied.

C-SPAN requests for same-day audio release of oral arguments in Skilling v. United States and McDonald v. City of Chicago on Tuesday, March 2nd – denied.

C-SPAN requests same-day audio release of oral argument in Christian Legal Society Chapter v. Martinez on April 19. Denied. C-SPAN Chart showing same-day oral argument audio requests since 2005 Click here to read

During hearing of House Appropriations-Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Services, Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer comments on cameras in the court. Click here to watch

C-SPAN statement on today's Senate Judiciary Committee passage of two bills concerning TV cameras in the Supreme Court. Press Release 

Pres. Obama nominates U.S. Solicitor General Elena Kagan. She gave remarks on cameras in the court during a Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference from July, 23, 2009. Click here to watch

During her confirmation hearing for Supreme Court Justice, Elena Kagan says in response to a question from Sen. Kohl: "I have said that I think it would be a terrific thing to have cameras in the courtroom ... I think it would be a great thing for the institution, and more important, I think it would be a great thing for the American people." Click here to watch | Sen. Specter also asks about cameras in the court. Click here to watch

C-SPAN Statement In Response to Today's Supreme Court Announcement on Oral Argument Audio Release Link  

San Francisco Ninth Circuit Grants C-SPAN Access Cover California Same-Sex Marriage Ban Oral Argument Link  

C-SPAN letter to Chief Justice Roberts on TV camera coverage of health care case Link  

Justice Roberts’ response to C-SPAN Link  

Supreme Court says it will release same-day audio of gay marriage arguments Link  

U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit says it will release same-day audio of oral arguments free of charge online beginning September 9, 2013 Link