Vibrant judiciary depends on openness

The public and the judicial system both benefit from transparency in our courts.

Keeping court proceedings open and accessible provides a needed check on the judicial branch. Courts operating in isolation cannot expect the public to fully respect or understand their work.

Recent high-profile decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court have again driven home the need for greater access to federal court proceedings.

Not all Americans can travel to the U.S. Supreme Court to view and hear arguments or listen as historic decisions are read. Although transcripts and audio recordings are made available, neither provide the public a clear understanding of court functions or how the nine justices perform their duties.

A simple solution is available: Open the courtroom to cameras and televise the proceedings.

The nation's high court, as other federal courts, is tasked with weighing in on important issues with national impact. Expanding media coverage of court proceedings would shine much-needed light on a process that remains foreign to many citizens.

Opponents say they are concerned that allowing cameras in the courtroom will detract from the grave nature of the proceedings. They worry it will open the courts up to subjective analysis - armchair quarterbacking, if you will. But that already is the case.

Other concerns, such as that livestreaming early court proceedings might taint potential jurors, is moot in the case of the U.S. Supreme Court, which does not operate with a jury.

Iowa's judicial branch provides a great case study in this area. Iowa has allowed cameras in courtrooms for roughly three decades, to great public benefit.

Even some federal judges have been receptive. For example, U.S. District Judge Mark Bennett of Sioux City allowed Gazette court reporter Trish Mehaffey to live blog an insurance fraud proceeding.

'I thought the public's right to know what goes on in federal court and the transparency that would be given the proceedings by liveblogging outweighed any potential prejudice to the defendant,” Bennett said in an interview about his decision. We agree.

Iowa's own U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley has been working for nearly 20 years to open federal courts to camera coverage. We applaud his efforts and encourage him to continue.

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