Supreme Court justices debate merits of courtroom cameras News
Supreme Court justices debate merits of courtroom cameras

[JURIST] US Supreme Court Justices Sandra Day O'Connor [OYEZ profile], Anthony Kennedy [OYEZ profile] and Stephen Breyer [OYEZ profile] Thursday briefly debated the possibility of media cameras in the chambers of the US Supreme Court [official website] during an ABA symposium [event website]. Senators predicted [JURIST report] Wednesday that recently introduced legislation [text] authorizing the televising of all Supreme Court hearings will easily pass both houses of Congress. Justice Kennedy was the most receptive to the idea, arguing that cameras could help future Supreme Court litigants. Justice Breyer was primarily concerned with camera use in criminal trials, and noted that no Supreme Court justice wants to degrade the institution. Justice O'Connor brought up the televised O.J. Simpson trial, which she said made her feel "uncomfortable," as a reason not to invite cameras into the Supreme Court. AP has more.