Previously: Why Isn’t The Prop 8 Trial Televised (At Least Not Today)?
Elsewhere: High court: No cameras at Prop 8 trial AP via ABC7, Supreme Court: No Cameras At SF Gay Marriage Trial CBS5, High court bans TV, YouTube for same-sex trial Chron, Supreme Court: No Cameras In Prop 8 Trial KCBS
The U.S. Supreme Court by a 5-4 vote today blocked a proposed limited broadcast of a federal trial in San Francisco on the constitutionality of California’s ban on same-sex marriage.
The court majority said the local court failed to follow proper procedures for public comment before allowing what would have been the first broadcast of a federal trial in the West.
The court issued a stay that will be in effect until a full appeal is filed and considered by the court concerning a Jan. 7 order in which U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker had authorized the broadcast. Such an appeal would not be completed until long after the trial.
The stay continues a temporary stay issued by the high court one hour before the trial began before Walker on Monday.
The plan blocked by the court was a proposal to allow a live broadcast of the two-week trial to five other federal courthouses in California and three other states.
A related plan by Walker to allow a delayed Internet broadcast on YouTube was not before the high court because the Internet broadcast had not yet been approved by a federal appeals court judge.
