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Transparency in Courts

Posted on Apr 04 , 2007 in Advocacy & Courts & PR & Transparency

Last month the Texas Supreme Court became the latest high court to offer video webcasts of oral arguments. This is positive step and further allows the judiciary to explain its important role in providing access to justice. In the Houston Chronicle's Viewpoint Section Mark Trachtenberg agrees,

First, it allows for greater transparency of the court's operations and decision-making. While oral arguments comprise only one aspect of how the court decides its cases (it generally relies more heavily on the parties' legal briefing), the Webcasts give viewers a sense of the competing considerations involved in the difficult cases the court takes on.

The Clark County Courts, Las Vegas, plan to offer video transcripts of select daily hearings in the Eighth Judicial District Court in 2008. Note: I serve as the Court Information Officer for the Clark County Courts.

Supreme Courts offering audio/video:

Courts thinking about it:

  • Missouri Supreme Court
  • Michigan Supreme Court

Courts I'd like to see:

  • Nevada Supreme Court
  • United States Supreme Court
  • http://www.aflux.net Anna

    I think offering this in the US Supreme Court is a fantastic idea. As much as I love Nina Totenberg’s animated and enthusiastic rendition after the fact, getting to hear the discussion ‘first hand’ would be better. I hate snippets. Highlights are great, but I want to hear the argument from beginning to end.