Comments on: Some requests for the Chief http://www.scotusblog.com/2005/10/some-requests-for-the-chief/ The Supreme Court of the United States blog Mon, 23 Jan 2012 22:38:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Marc Shepherd http://www.scotusblog.com/2005/10/some-requests-for-the-chief/#comment-8168 Marc Shepherd Thu, 20 Oct 2005 22:36:48 +0000 http://www.scotusblog.com/wp/uncategorized/some-requests-for-the-chief/#comment-8168 Simon, we routinely expect considerablly more disclosure from public servants than private citizens would ever be expected to put up with. I don't care about routine medical procedures. But when the Chief Justice is sufficiently ill that he is missing oral arguments and not participating in decisions, the public is entitled to know what is going on. I mean, if I were as seriously ill as we now know the Chief was, I think my boss would be entitled to know the situation. Supreme Court Justices are responsible to the public, and an infirmity as serious as the late Chief's warranted more thorough and timely disclosure than we received. Simon, we routinely expect considerablly more disclosure from public servants than private citizens would ever be expected to put up with.

I don’t care about routine medical procedures. But when the Chief Justice is sufficiently ill that he is missing oral arguments and not participating in decisions, the public is entitled to know what is going on.

I mean, if I were as seriously ill as we now know the Chief was, I think my boss would be entitled to know the situation. Supreme Court Justices are responsible to the public, and an infirmity as serious as the late Chief’s warranted more thorough and timely disclosure than we received.

]]> By: Simon http://www.scotusblog.com/2005/10/some-requests-for-the-chief/#comment-8167 Simon Thu, 20 Oct 2005 04:34:57 +0000 http://www.scotusblog.com/wp/uncategorized/some-requests-for-the-chief/#comment-8167 #4 is pretty shocking stuff. When the NY Times starts including its editors' daily blood pressure in its masthead, then maybe they can ask to know how anyone else's health is doing. I'm not interested in knowing the health of Justices of the Supreme Court or any other civil servant, elected or otherwise, and it strikes me as profoundly invasive that anyone would even ask. #4 is pretty shocking stuff. When the NY Times starts including its editors’ daily blood pressure in its masthead, then maybe they can ask to know how anyone else’s health is doing. I’m not interested in knowing the health of Justices of the Supreme Court or any other civil servant, elected or otherwise, and it strikes me as profoundly invasive that anyone would even ask.

]]> By: Brad D. Bailey http://www.scotusblog.com/2005/10/some-requests-for-the-chief/#comment-8166 Brad D. Bailey Wed, 19 Oct 2005 20:21:41 +0000 http://www.scotusblog.com/wp/uncategorized/some-requests-for-the-chief/#comment-8166 To add to Kent's comments, I'd like to see streaming audio of oral argument. Cameras in the court would detract from the intimate nature of oral argument at the high court. Audio streaming, however wouldn't. Several of the circuits are making audio available the day after argument. I don't think we need to know every maudlin detail of the justice's health. To some extent, its not of our buisness. To add to Kent’s comments, I’d like to see streaming audio of oral argument. Cameras in the court would detract from the intimate nature of oral argument at the high court. Audio streaming, however wouldn’t. Several of the circuits are making audio available the day after argument.

I don’t think we need to know every maudlin detail of the justice’s health. To some extent, its not of our buisness.

]]> By: Kent Scheidegger http://www.scotusblog.com/2005/10/some-requests-for-the-chief/#comment-8165 Kent Scheidegger Wed, 19 Oct 2005 19:19:11 +0000 http://www.scotusblog.com/wp/uncategorized/some-requests-for-the-chief/#comment-8165 "Immediate release of the written transcripts of oral arguments (now available usually 7 to 10 days after argument day)." By "available" do you mean available from the reporting company at a stiff fee? The October 3 transcipts are not on the Court's transcript page on its Web site as of October 19. http://www.supremecourtus.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts.html The page says, "The Court's current contract Courtroom reporter, Alderson Reporting Company, provides transcripts of oral arguments that are posted on this Website within 10-15 business days after the close of the argument session.... Persons wishing to obtain transcripts sooner than they are posted here, for a fee, should contact Alderson...." I would like to see the Court post things on the Web site (both transcripts and opinions) at the same time they are available to anyone at any price. One of the great benefits of the Internet is the egalitarian effect of making information universally available, decreasing the advantages of both physical proximity and deep pockets. Selling advance information when it is privately owned is all well and good, but when the information is a government product, it should be universally available. “Immediate release of the written transcripts of oral arguments (now available usually 7 to 10 days after argument day).”

By “available” do you mean available from the reporting company at a stiff fee? The October 3 transcipts are not on the Court’s transcript page on its Web site as of October 19.

http://www.supremecourtus.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts.html

The page says, “The Court’s current contract Courtroom reporter, Alderson Reporting Company, provides transcripts of oral arguments that are posted on this Website within 10-15 business days after the close of the argument session…. Persons wishing to obtain transcripts sooner than they are posted here, for a fee, should contact Alderson….”

I would like to see the Court post things on the Web site (both transcripts and opinions) at the same time they are available to anyone at any price. One of the great benefits of the Internet is the egalitarian effect of making information universally available, decreasing the advantages of both physical proximity and deep pockets. Selling advance information when it is privately owned is all well and good, but when the information is a government product, it should be universally available.

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