U.S. Supreme Court agrees to hear cases by teleconference

Facing a docket filled with some of the most controversial and important cases to be decided in years, U.S. Supreme Court justices—in virtual hibernation because of the coronavirus pandemic—have elected to hear 10 previously scheduled cases via teleconference and make the oral arguments available for live audio broadcast (still no live telecast). They will argue the cases on May 4-6 and May 11-13. The move represents a dramatic break with precedent, as the Court has generally refused to make itself accessible to the public via electronic media.

Court’s docket

Some observers had asked how the Supreme Court could weigh in on a crucial (and unscheduled) issue like voting in the Wisconsin presidential primary from behind closed doors, while leaving other equally critical issues in abeyance. The switch to live audio broadcasts is likely the Court’s response to those comments.

Among the cases to be heard is one to determine whether President Donald Trump’s financial records must be disclosed in response to a subpoena from the U.S. House of Representatives and whether his accounting firm and banks must turn over records in a New York lawsuit. The case will address issues of separation of powers and presidential immunity not considered in decades . . . or centuries.