On December 1, 2000, the American television-viewing public was granted unusual access to the U.S. Supreme Court. On that day, the Court heard arguments on the validity of Florida’s presidential election results. Within fifteen minutes of the hearing’s conclusion, audiotaped transcripts were made available to the networks. Using pictures of the justices as a visual accompaniment, television was able to bring the highest court in the land to an audience of millions. The decision departed greatly from other Supreme Court cases, in which the audio transcript is not available until several weeks after the arguments had concluded.

Many commentators argue that releasing audiotapes is inadequate and that the Supreme Court should allow television cameras. The Court, however, has been reluctant. Justice David Souter once declared, “The day you see a camera...