Opinion | Mics vs. Cameras in the Supreme Court

As another Supreme Court term begins, legal junkies are tuning in online to listen live as the Justices wrestle with the heavy constitutional questions on their mahogany bench. But hit that pause button for a second to acknowledge this as a significant move toward openness by the Court.

The livestream of oral arguments started as a Covid pandemic innovation, as the Justices left their marble courtroom in favor of grilling the two sides in each case via telephone conference call. This term, however, the Court is again welcoming in-person spectators. Until last week, nobody knew if this meant that the live internet feed would go dead. Thankfully, no.