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Senators urge U.S. Supreme Court to reconsider cameras

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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Two U.S. senators wrote Chief Justice William Rehnquist Tuesday asking the Supreme Court to reconsider banning television coverage of Friday's arguments in the Florida vote recount case. Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, and Sen. Charles Schumer, D-New York, said the highest court in the land should televise the hearing for Americans to scrutinize, to learn from and to gain faith in the judicial system.

"A single camera in the courtroom, which could be placed to be barely noticeable to all participants, would provide live coverage on all networks of what may be one of the most historic and important arguments of our times," wrote the senators.

"Letting the world watch would bolster confidence in our judicial system, increase faith in the integrity of our courts and underscore that we are a country devoted to the rule of law."

Rehnquist Monday declined a request from the media for camera and audio presence during Friday's arguments.

Grassley and Schumer, lead sponsors of legislation to permanently allow cameras in federal courtrooms, argued the success of televised proceedings in Florida should provide incentive for the justices to open Friday's hearing to the cameras.

"While millions of Americans watched, the proceedings went forward with no problems and with the attorneys acting with great decorum and in the best traditions of the Bar. And by watching the arguments, which were shown live and rebroadcast several times later, the public was able to better learn the legal arguments of each party and gauge the court's responses to those arguments," the senators wrote.

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