Rep. Connolly Introduces Bill to Require Television Coverage of Supreme Court Sessions
The Cameras in the Courtroom Act has not moved since March 2025 when it was sent to the House Committee on the Judiciary. This bill is stalled and is no longer the primary focus because a newer version is now the vehicle to watch. No further action is expected on this specific proposal.
Companion bill: Sen. Durbin and Sen. Grassley Introduce Bipartisan Cameras in the Courtroom Act →A companion or newer version of this bill is the one advancing instead.
This bill has been introduced in almost every session of Congress for years and has never become law because the Supreme Court strongly opposes outside control of its procedures.
This bill’s path across every version that has carried it.
Companion
Identical companion bill S. 1146 (119th) was introduced in the other chamber.
S. 1146 (119th) →Scores run from -100 (strongly harmful) to +100 (strongly beneficial) for each group, combining impact, certainty, scope, and duration ratings of 1-5. How impact scoring works
Law students and other students studying government and civics would gain an easier way to watch real Supreme Court oral arguments instead of relying only on audio recordings or transcripts. This could improve legal education and public understanding of how the Court works.
“The Supreme Court shall permit television coverage of all open sessions of the Court”
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Lawmakers on Thursday again unveiled a pair of bipartisan bills — one that would give federal judges permission to allow cameras in their courtrooms and another that would require the Supreme Court to open up certain proceedings to television crews.
In an increasingly rare moment of bipartisanship, Senate lawmakers on Thursday unanimously passed legislation that would permit television crews to record proceedings in federal courts and the Supreme Court.
The bipartisan Cameras in the Courtroom Act would require the Supreme Court to permit television coverage of all open sessions of the Court, unless the Court decides, by a majority vote of the justices, that doing so would constitute a violation of the due process rights.
No votes recorded for this bill yet.
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Cameras in the Courtroom Act
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