Federal Judiciary

Early release of voting rights audio

By Akin Gump Supreme Court Practice Group

The Supreme Court has agreed to the prompt release for broadcast, soon after 11 a.m. on Wednesday, April 29, of the audiotape of the oral argument that day in Northwest Austin Municipal District v. Holder (08-322).

The hearing begins at 10 a.m., and will continue for approximately one hour.  While only one hour is scheduled, Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., is likely to allow it to continue beyond that if the Justices and lawyers, as expected, get heavily engaged in the issues.  The audiotape release and its public broadcast will follow soon after the conclusion.  ABC News is providing a network pool for the recording’s release.

The Court was asked to promptly release the auditoapes by six news organizations — the three commercial TV networks (ABC, CBS and NBC), plus CNN, C-SPAN and Fox.

The case involves the constitutionality of Congress’ 25-year extension of Section 5 of the 1965 Civil Rights Act, which requires a number of state and local governments to get permission in Washington to change their election laws or procedures.  The oral argument in the case is the final one scheduled for this Term of the Court.

Full post as published by SCOTUSBLOG on April 20, 2009 (boomark / email).