UPDATE: Prop 8 Trial Broadcast DELAYED by US Superior Court

This just in! According to The Washington Post, the Supreme Court issued a ruling temporarily overturning federal Judge Vaughn R. Walker's decision to allow delayed taping of the Prop. 8 trial on YouTube. Opponents claim fear of discrimination and harassment as the reason to not televise the trial and asked the Supreme Court to intervene.

The Courage Campaign gathered over 130,000 signatures last week urging Judge Walker to televise the proceeding, and he responded with a commitment to broadcast the trial via YouTube. In his ruling, he made it clear that the only cameras allowed in the courtroom would be the already installed courtroom cameras that already tape proceedings. These tapes would then be uploaded at regular intervals to YouTube providing the public a rare opportunity to see inside the trial.

This achievement was viewed as a large victory for supporters of marriage equality. It would allow the marriage equality community to see the arguments being made by opponents of marriage equality and help inform further action if the trial turns out in favor of upholding Prop. 8. Additionally, it would show the larger public what exactly the debate is on both sides. Not allowing cameras into the proceedings, keeps the arguments limited to second hand accounts thus dulling the impact of both sides' arguments.

The stay issued by the Supreme Court is only valid until Wednesday allowing justices further time to consider the impact of a televised, albeit delayed broadcast, trial.

The full The Washington Post article is here. 

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UPDATE: YouTube Channel Televising Prop 8 Trial

  
Today, the YouTube channel that will be televising the Prop 8 Trial starting Monday, January 11, 2010 was launched. This is a very crucial step in bringing transparency to civil rights cases. You can view the delayed feed here.

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UPDATE: Courage Campaign STILL Needs Your Signature

Courage Campaign is getting close to reaching their 100,000 signatures mark by Friday at 9:00am. They are collecting signatures to demonstrate strong public support for televising the Prop. 8 Trial to Judge Vaughn Walker. Currently, a ruling has been made to televise the trial on delay through YouTube. The trial will not be televised by media organizations for live broadcast.

Courage Campaign issued the following statement after the ruling:

"This decision is NOT final: Judge Walker is leaving the public comment period open until Friday, pending a ruling on his decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit.

"While we are pleased that the trial may be on a delayed broadcast via YouTube at least, our call for full transparency -- a televised broadcast that network news and cable channels can pick up live, as it happens -- has not been met.

"And, it's entirely possible that the 9th Circuit Appeals Court may overrule Judge Walker's ruling, shutting down all broadcasting -- even a delayed daily YouTube broadcast. Lawyers representing supporters of Prop. 8 have already opposed broadcasting the trial in any form whatsoever and are likely to fight Walker's ruling."

Become one of the 100,000 by signing the petition.

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Courage Campaign: Televise the Trial

 
The battle for the legality of Prop 8 is heating up before it even starts. Currently, Judge Walker is asking the public to comment on whether or not to televise the trial. The pro-Prop. 8 side doesn't want the trial to air preferring to keep their prejudice, discrimination, and hate a secret from the public fearing truth shall see the light of day. The anti-Prop. 8 crew wants everything aired.

Courage Campaign is currently trying to recruit signatures and comments to ensure that trial does go public. Do your part and express your comments  by signing their petition here.

More history on California's Proposition 8, click here (links to Towleroad).

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