Senate panel votes to allow cameras in Supreme Court, but not lower federal courts
CNN.com reports that the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 11-7 to allow television coverage of Supreme Court hearings, but after stripping the bill of its requirement to allow cameras into federal trial and appellate courts. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., argued that cameras would lead to judges "performing" for the cameras. Other arguments included witnesses who would refuse to testify because cameras were in the courtroom. Nor is the Supreme Court camera rule absolute. The cameras could be thrown out if a majority of justices believes that the coverage would infringe on an appellant's right to a fair trial.