Louisiana Supreme Court Broadcasts Live on Internet

Chief Justice Calogero announced Monday that, beginning in January 2007, the Louisiana Supreme Court's oral arguments will be broadcast live on the Internet through the Court's Web site. "The Court owes a debt of gratitude to Justice Kitty Kimball for her leadership in several recent technological advancements made by the Supreme Court, most notably our ability to now make our oral arguments available to anyone who wishes to watch them from wherever a computer with internet access is located, whether at home, an office or a public library." This live stream of the Court's oral arguments can be accessed by simply clicking on the icon located on the Louisiana Supreme Court's Web site.

According to John T. Olivier, Clerk of Court, and Peter Haas, the Louisiana Supreme Court's Information Technology Director, the stream is provided using a series of three cameras located in the courtroom, which allows for likenesses of the full bench, an individual Justice, and the attorney addressing the Court to be broadcast in real time.

Oral arguments at the Louisiana Supreme Court are scheduled every six weeks, with the next arguments running Tuesday, January 16 through Friday, January 19, 2007. Usually, there are two sessions of arguments each day, beginning at 9:30 a.m. and again at 2:00 p.m.

Under the guidance of the Court's Technology Committee, chaired by Justice Kimball, the Web stream is just another of several new technology improvements the Louisiana Supreme Court has made recently, making the Court's work more accessible to the public and easier to understand. For example, the Supreme Court maintains an award-winning Web site, which includes a list serve for the e-mailing of news and opinion releases.

According to Justice Kimball, "The Louisiana Supreme Court is pleased to be able to facilitate this access to the public and looks forward to additional innovations in technology presently in the works, maintaining the Court's position as one of the most technologically advanced courts in the nation."