The Supreme Court announced Wednesday it will continue streaming the justices’ oral arguments online but said the courthouse will remain closed to the public “until further notice.”
“The Court will provide a live audio feed of all scheduled oral arguments for the upcoming term,” the Supreme Court’s Public Information Office wrote in a statement Wednesday. Livestreaming oral arguments was a novel feature to the high court’s procedures after the building closed to the public and began teleconferencing arguments in May 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The decision was welcome news, as many court watchers were wary about whether the streaming would continue for the court’s forthcoming fall 2022-23 term.
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While the court will be restricted to the public for the time being, seating for oral argument sessions will be made available for the public, members of the press, members of the Supreme Court bar, and attorneys who argue cases before the justices. Additionally, wearing face masks inside the courtroom will be optional.
Earlier this month, Chief Justice John Roberts said when the high court returns to work, the public “will be there to watch us,” indicating that the building will eventually become open to public visitation again.
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A live audio feed is available on the high court’s homepage on the day of oral arguments and is subsequently uploaded to the website, along with a transcript of the dialogue shortly after the livestream concludes.
The justices are slated to begin oral arguments for the new term next Monday. Before then, the Supreme Court will hold an investiture for the newest high court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson on Friday morning, followed by the Red Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Matthew the Apostle, an event that marks the opening of the Supreme Court’s annual term.
