Demagogue

Or in your living room, or office, or anywhere else you might have a computer. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has started broadcasting oral arguments live over the Internet. One of the first cases was the request by a conservative Roman Catholic group that the Court halt same-sex marriages until 2006. The theory is that it will take that long to determine whether the people of the commonwealth wish to ban same-sex marriages--a constitutional amendment to that effect passed the legislature, but must pass the next legislature as well and then be put to a referendum--and allowing gays and lesbians to create "facts on the ground" will distort the public debate over the proposed amendment. (Don't ask what I think of this theory). Coming attractions at the SJC include the case challenging the governor's order not to grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples who travel to Massachusetts. Not quite all gay, all the time, but there should be some interesting viewing nonetheless.

As a lawyer, I very much appreciate this development. I argued in the Indiana Supreme Court a couple of years ago, flying in from New York to do so. That court puts videos of previous oral arguments on the Internet, and it was a big help to be able to watch a couple of arguments and get a feel for the tone and personality of the court.

(Yes, this means that there is free Internet video of Arnold P. California, Esq., in action. All you have to do is guess which case I argued.)