The Senate Judiciary Committee has advance  15-7 on Thursday to advance the Cameras in the Courtroom Act, a bipartisan measure that would mandate television coverage of the U.S. Supreme Court's open sessions.

The legislation, introduced by Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat, and Sen. Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican, seeks to bring the Supreme Court into the modern era of public accountability. A companion bill, the Sunshine in the Courtroom Act, would extend similar camera access to lower federal courts.

The bill now moves to the full Senate, where its prospects remain uncertain. Previous versions have failed to gain sufficient traction, often stalling amid broader debates over judicial independence and institutional norms.

Under the proposed law, the high court would be required to permit live television broadcasts of all proceedings open to the public—such as oral arguments and opinion announcements – unless a majority of justices determine that coverage would infringe on a party’s due process rights.

The push for cameras is not new. Similar bills have been introduced in Congress for more than two decades, reflecting longstanding frustration with the court’s resistance to audiovisual recording. The court has consistently declined to allow cameras in its courtroom, despite technological advancements and widespread public demand for greater visibility into its deliberations.

Supporters argue that broadcasting proceedings would demystify an institution whose decisions profoundly shape American law, policy, and daily life for generations. Increased visibility, they contend, would foster better public understanding and trust in the judiciary.

Opponents, including several current and former justices, have raised concerns about potential grandstanding by attorneys, heightened security risks, and subtle shifts in courtroom behavior that could undermine the solemnity and deliberative nature of arguments.