US Supreme Court's 'Next Big Thing': the Telephone
2020-04-26
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1The Chief Justice of the United States, John Roberts, said in 2014 that courts will always be careful when it comes to "the next big thing" in technology.
2And it took a worldwide pandemic for the U.S. Supreme Court to finally agree to use, of all things, the telephone.
3In May, the court's members will hear arguments over the telephone for the first time.
4Public television service C-SPAN will broadcast audio of the arguments "live."
5Clare Cushman is director of publications at the Supreme Court Historical Society.
6She called the decision to use telephones a "giant leap forward" for a place that sticks to tradition.
7But she noted that hearing arguments on the phone is somewhat backward given how much of the country and other courts are now using video conferencing.
8Until 1971, the Supreme Court was still using pneumatic tubes to send documents.
9They were popular in the late 1800s for shipping mail, papers, and other things between offices.
10The court was still using Linotype machines to print documents in the early 1980s while others printed from desktop computers.
11Just two years ago, the high court made its documents available on the internet, well after other courts.
12Before the coronavirus crisis, Supreme Court justices were exchanging messages and opinions on paper.
13Yet most of the nine justices - six of them over the age of 65 - appear to use modern technology in their own lives.
14Justice Elena Kagan has said she is on the social media website Twitter.
15Justice Samuel Alito has described reading legal briefs on an Apple iPad.
16Justice Sonia Sotomayor wears an electronic sensor that keeps watch over her health.
17And Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh have young children who might be expected to send text messages to their fathers.
18This month, 81-year-old Justice Stephen Breyer used the videoconference service Zoom to talk to students at a New York school.
19Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is the oldest member of the court at the age of 87.
20She reads emails on an iPhone and once told people that she uses another Apple device as a sound machine to help her sleep.
21Still, the decision to hear arguments via telephone during six days in May was unimaginable two months ago.
22The change is an effort to limit large gatherings of people to slow the spread of the disease COVID-19.
23This year, the cases before the Supreme Court include President Donald Trump's effort to keep his tax and financial records secret.
24The court also will hear whether Electoral College members must vote for the candidate who won their state in presidential elections.
25The court's willingness to use telephones might last only a short time.
26But those who want more openness on the court hope it will continue after the pandemic.
27Melissa Murray is a law professor at the New York University School of Law.
28She said live audio gives Americans the ability to observe the third branch of the U.S. government at work.
29She added, "I don't know why you wouldn't want that."
30Stephen Dillard serves on the Georgia Court of Appeals.
31He supports openness in the courts.
32He told The Associated Press, "This is a great first step, and I'm excited about it, but I hope they will go further in years to come and allow live video streaming."
33I'm Jonathan Evans.
1The Chief Justice of the United States, John Roberts, said in 2014 that courts will always be careful when it comes to "the next big thing" in technology. And it took a worldwide pandemic for the U.S. Supreme Court to finally agree to use, of all things, the telephone. 2In May, the court's members will hear arguments over the telephone for the first time. Public television service C-SPAN will broadcast audio of the arguments "live." 3Clare Cushman is director of publications at the Supreme Court Historical Society. She called the decision to use telephones a "giant leap forward" for a place that sticks to tradition. But she noted that hearing arguments on the phone is somewhat backward given how much of the country and other courts are now using video conferencing. 4Until 1971, the Supreme Court was still using pneumatic tubes to send documents. They were popular in the late 1800s for shipping mail, papers, and other things between offices. The court was still using Linotype machines to print documents in the early 1980s while others printed from desktop computers. 5Just two years ago, the high court made its documents available on the internet, well after other courts. 6Before the coronavirus crisis, Supreme Court justices were exchanging messages and opinions on paper. Yet most of the nine justices - six of them over the age of 65 - appear to use modern technology in their own lives. 7Justice Elena Kagan has said she is on the social media website Twitter. Justice Samuel Alito has described reading legal briefs on an Apple iPad. Justice Sonia Sotomayor wears an electronic sensor that keeps watch over her health. And Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh have young children who might be expected to send text messages to their fathers. 8This month, 81-year-old Justice Stephen Breyer used the videoconference service Zoom to talk to students at a New York school. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is the oldest member of the court at the age of 87. She reads emails on an iPhone and once told people that she uses another Apple device as a sound machine to help her sleep. 9Still, the decision to hear arguments via telephone during six days in May was unimaginable two months ago. The change is an effort to limit large gatherings of people to slow the spread of the disease COVID-19. 10This year, the cases before the Supreme Court include President Donald Trump's effort to keep his tax and financial records secret. The court also will hear whether Electoral College members must vote for the candidate who won their state in presidential elections. 11The court's willingness to use telephones might last only a short time. But those who want more openness on the court hope it will continue after the pandemic. 12Melissa Murray is a law professor at the New York University School of Law. She said live audio gives Americans the ability to observe the third branch of the U.S. government at work. She added, "I don't know why you wouldn't want that." 13Stephen Dillard serves on the Georgia Court of Appeals. He supports openness in the courts. He told The Associated Press, "This is a great first step, and I'm excited about it, but I hope they will go further in years to come and allow live video streaming." 14I'm Jonathan Evans. 15The Associated Press reported this story. Hai Do adapted the story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. 16_______________________________________________________________ 17Words in This Story 18pandemic - n. an occurrence in which a disease spread quickly around the world 19brief - n. a document that states the facts a lawyer plans to use in a court case 20branch - n. a major part of a government 21excited - adj. very enthusiastic and eager about something