In case you missed it, Associate Justice Robert L. Brown of the Arkansas Supreme Court wrote a guest editorial in today’s Arkansas Democrat Gazette entitled New Day in Court. In his editorial, Justice Brown discusses the Arkansas Supreme Court’s decision to embrace technology by streaming its oral arguments of appellate court cases live on the Internet. He also shares his opinion concerning the United State Supreme Court’s refusal to embrace the same technology and his hope that it soon will:
Three years ago, I wrote an article that was critical of the United States Supreme Court for not following the leads of the state supreme courts in providing live video telecasts of oral arguments. Sadly, though, it still has not moved in the direction of these state supreme courts and refuses to record video of its oral arguments, either for live or delayed broadcasts. My personal opinion is that this recalcitrance on the part of the court denies the people of this country a critically important benefit. What could be more educational than making these arguments available?
Despite this reluctance, there are hopeful signs that the court may change. Justice Elena Kagan said in her confirmation hearings this summer that she supported live broadcasts while quipping that this would mean more hair appointments for her. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg is also receptive to the idea, as may be Justices Stephen Breyer, Samuel Alito and Sonia Sotomayor.
For more information about the Court’s decision to stream its oral arguments live, see our post from yesterday, entitled Hear Ye, Hear Ye, the Arkansas Supreme Court is Now in Session . . . Live & Online!
The first oral argument to be streamed live online will take place tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m. Watch it live on the Arkansas Supreme Court’s website.
ArkansasAppeals.com 