Professor Lisa Tucker was quoted in a Chicago Sun Times article on the decision made by the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) to conduct oral arguments by teleconference and provide a live audio feed online for anyone to hear.

Historically, SCOTUS has always turned down opportunities to provide video and live audio coverage in its courtroom, a tradition that has led the public to turn up in droves at the courthouse and endure long wait times to secure limited public courtroom seating when ground-breaking cases were heard. For example, individuals who wanted to watch the arguments in the 2012 Obamacare case “slept outside (in the rain) for at least three nights (some more), all to see history in the making,” said Tucker.

The Court cited the public health guidelines created in response to COVID-19 as the official justification for allowing audio of the arguments to be streamed. Currently, streaming is set for the 10 sets of cases SCOTUS will hear from May 4 to May 13.