Influential senators on Wednesday predicted passage soon of legislation that would open the doors of the Supreme Court to regular broadcast coverage of its proceedings.
"It's a question of when, in my judgment, not if," said Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter, R-Pa., at a hearing on a bill that would mandate broadcast access unless a majority of justices voted against it in an individual case.
"I think this is the year to make this law," said Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., a member of the Judiciary Committee and a co-sponsor of the bill.
"The time is ripe," added Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., pointing to Bush administration moves toward government secrecy.
After decades of futile efforts to persuade the Court to end its steadfast opposition to cameras on its own, the legislative approach -- forcing the issue by statute -- seems to be gaining momentum.
Details here from Legal Times via Law.com.