[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 158 (Tuesday, September 25, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H8746]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


               CAMERAS IN THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT

  (Mr. POE of Texas asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is time to remove the veil of 
secrecy from the hallowed halls of the Supreme Court.
  Americans have the right to watch the proceedings in person, but only 
50 members of the public can get into the small courtroom at a time.
  Technology allows discreet videoing, but for some reason, there are 
those who want to keep these proceedings hidden from the American 
public.
  We have the best judicial system ever created. We should not hide it.
  Cameras should be allowed in the most important court in the world.
  I know cameras can be placed in a courtroom without disruption or 
distraction, because I did it. For 22 years, I served as a felony court 
judge in Houston, Texas. I heard over 25,000 criminal cases and nearly 
1,000 jury trials, and many of those were filmed by the television 
media.
  Justice would be better served if the black robe of secrecy was 
removed from the United States Supreme Court and the proceedings were 
filmed. Because justice is the one thing we should always find in 
America.
  And that is just the way it is.

                          ____________________