Cameras in the Courtroom Act
- Bill Number
- S. 1146
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Law
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-23: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 445.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-10T15:21:09Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose The legislation aims to increase public access to Supreme Court proceedings by requiring television coverage of open sessions.
Key Provisions
- The bill adds a new section (Sec. 678) to Chapter 45 of title 28, United States Code.
- It mandates that the Supreme Court permit television coverage of all open sessions.
- Coverage may be withheld only if a majority of the justices vote that televising a specific case would violate the due process rights of one or more parties.
- The bill includes a clerical amendment to update the chapter analysis.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Currently, the Supreme Court sets its own policies on broadcasting and has not allowed live television coverage of proceedings.
- This bill introduces a statutory requirement for televising, shifting control from the Court's internal discretion to a default rule with a limited exception.
Potential Impacts
- On government agencies: Requires the Supreme Court to adjust its operational practices regarding media access.
- On citizens: Provides broader public visibility into Court arguments and decisions through television.
- On international relations: No direct effects are specified in the bill.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- The Supreme Court and its justices.
- Parties and litigants appearing before the Court.
- The media and broadcast organizations.
- The general public seeking access to judicial proceedings.
- Congress, as the body enacting the requirement.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- The due process exception addresses potential fairness concerns for litigants.
- The measure raises questions about the balance between judicial transparency and institutional independence.
- It represents a congressional effort to influence Supreme Court procedures through legislation.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Cosponsors (4)
Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA], Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT], Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN], Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-23: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 445.
- 2026-06-23: Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Grassley without amendment. Without written report.
- 2026-06-23: Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Grassley without amendment. Without written report.
- 2026-06-18: Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
- 2025-03-26: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR S1874)
- 2025-03-26: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Cameras in the Courtroom Act — issued 2025-03-26 — PDF (2 pages)
- Cameras in the Courtroom Act — issued 2026-06-23 — PDF (4 pages)