C-SPAN has sought to provide its audience with coverage of the Judiciary, just as it has covered the Legislative and Executive branches of government. The prohibition of televised coverage of the Supreme Court's oral arguments has been an obstacle to fulfilling that goal. Below is a record of C-SPAN's efforts to make the Court more accessible to the public.
Supreme Court Oral Arguments for October LIVE on C‑SPAN Link
Supreme Court Oral Arguments for May LIVE on C‑SPAN Link
Chief Judge Merrick Garland announces that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit would provide live audio streaming of all its oral arguments.
C-SPAN airs Regents of UC v. Department of Homeland Security Oral Argument Watch
C-SPAN airs City and County of San Francisco v. Donald Trump Oral Argument Watch
C-SPAN airs Hawaii v. Trump Oral Argument Watch
C-SPAN airs State of Hawaii, et al. v. Trump Oral Argument Watch
The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals grants C-SPAN permission to air live audio of the oral argument in International Refugee Assistance Project v. Trump Link
C-SPAN to air live video of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals oral argument in State of Hawaii v. Trump 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
Supreme Court says it will release same-day audio of gay marriage arguments.
Justice Roberts’ response to C-SPAN Link
C-SPAN letter to Chief Justice Roberts on TV camera coverage of health care case Link
San Francisco Ninth Circuit Grants C-SPAN Access Cover California Same-Sex Marriage Ban Oral Argument Link
C-SPAN Statement In Response to Today's Supreme Court Announcement on Oral Argument Audio Release Link
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
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 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 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
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.
Request for request for same-day audio release of oral argument in Holder v Humanitarian Law Project. Denied.
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 Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (Campaign Finance). Agreed.
British Supreme Court decides to televise events from inside the court's three chambers. 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
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
Request for audio release of oral argument in Caperton v. A.T. Massey (Should elected state judges recuse themselves) 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 Phillip Morris USA Inc. v. Williams (Supreme Court-State Court authority) denied.
Request for audio release of oral argument in Pleasant Grove City v. Summum (Free Speech) denied.
Request for same-day audio release of oral argument in FCC v. Fox Television Stations (Television Indecency Standards) denied. Request Letter | Story
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 Kennedy V. Louisiana (Death Penalty for Rape) denied.
Request granted for same-day audio release of oral argument in District of Columbia v. Heller (DC Gun Law). Press Release
Request denied for same-day audio release of oral argument in United States v. Ressam ('Millenium Bomber' case).
NY Times Editorial on Cameras in the Supreme Court.
Request for same-day audio release of oral argument in Crawford v. Marion County (Voting Rights) denied.
Request for same-day audio release of oral argument in Baze v. Rees (Lethal Injection). Court agreed. Press Release
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.
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.
Sent letter requesting early audio release of Boumediene v. Bush & Al Odah v. U.S. (Guantanamo Detainees) Court Agreed. Press Release
Sent letter requesting early audio release of Medellin v. Texas (Presidential Powers) and Stoneridge Investment v. Scientific-Atlanta (Securities Fraud) Denied.
C-SPAN President Susan Swain tesitifies before House Judiciary Committee on H.R. 2128, Sunshine in the Courtroom Act of 2007. Watch | Read Testimony
Aired same-day audio of CBS vs. FCC hearing on Television Indecency Standards.
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
Sent letter requesting camera coverge of 3rd circuit CBS vs. FCC hearing on Television Indecency Standards. Received permission for audio only.
Sent letter requesting early audio release of FEC v. Wisconsin Right to Life and McCain v. Wisconsin Right to Life (Campaign Finance). Denied.
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
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
Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX/2nd), a former judge, delivers a floor speech about opening the court to cameras. Watch
Sent letter requesting early audio release of Rita v. United States and Claiborne v. United States (Federal sentencing guidelines). Denied
Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) introduces cameras in the Supreme Court legislation. Watch
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).
Sent letter requesting early audio release of Davenport v. Washington Education Association and Washington v. Washington Education Association (Union dues). Denied.
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 Parents Involved v. Seattle School District No.1 and Meredith v. Jefferson County Board of Education (affirmative action). Court agreed.
C-SPAN airs live a discussion between Justice Scalia and Nadine Strossen, President of the ACLU, called ' The State of Civil Liberties.' Watch
Requested early audio release of Gonzalez v. Planned Parenthood and Gonzalez v. Carhart (abortion ). Court agreed. Press Release
C-SPAN's Brian Lamb interviews Chief Justice John Roberts in one of his first television interviews since joining the court. Watch
Letter to Chief Justice Roberts requesting simultaneous release of all oral arguments beginning with 2006 term. Denied.
Sens. Grassley (R-IA) and Schumer (D-NY) introduced Sunshine in the Courtroom Act
Requested early audio release of Hamdan v Rumsfeld. (Military Tribunals) Court agreed. Press Release
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 audio release of tape of the investiture of Justice Alito. Denied.
U.S. House passes provisions of Sunshine in the Courtroom Act Statement.
C-SPAN CEO Brian Lamb testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the issue of cameras in the Supreme Court. Watch | Read
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.
First letter to Chief Justice Roberts offering C-SPAN capabilities to provide gavel-to-gavel camera coverage of Supreme Court.
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
Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) introduces legislation to televise the Supreme Court Statement.
Requested early audio release of Van Orden v. Perry and McCreary County v. ACLU of Kentucky. (Separation of church and state) Denied.
Requested early audio release of Roper v. Simmons. (Execution of juveniles) Denied.
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 McConnell v. FEC. (Campaign finance rules) Court agreed.
Sent letter requesting early audio release of Grutter v. Bollinger and Gratz v. Bollinger. (Affirmative action cases) Court agreed.
Letter to Chief Justice Rehnquist requesting live audio release of Bush v. Gore. Received early audio release, not live.
Letter to Chief Justice Rehnquist requesting camera coverage of Bush v. Palm Beach County Canvassing Board. Court agreed to release audio only.
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.
C-SPAN airs first live telecast of a federal court proceeding from a military appeals court.
Participated in demonstration of potential camera coverage in Supreme Court.
First letter to Chief Justice Rehnquist requesting camera coverage of Supreme Court.
Court permits C-SPAN to originate live interview and call-in programs from its Press Room.
C-SPAN launches '','' a weekly program focusing on the Judiciary with an emphasis on the Supreme Court.
C-SPAN televises its first Supreme Court Senate confirmation hearing with gavel-to-gavel coverage, with the nomination of Sandra Day O'Connor.
