The U.S. Supreme Court has long resisted efforts to allow cameras to broadcast its proceedings, despite overwhelming public support for the idea. A video of a federal court session in New York this week might shed a little light on why.

On Tuesday, a three-judge panel in the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan heard oral arguments inAmerican Civil Liberties Union v. Clapper. That's the case in which the nonprofit is challenging the National Security Agency's bulk collection of telephone records under Section 215 of the USA Patriot Act. Judge Gerald Lynch opened the proceedings by addressing the television viewing audience.

"I thought I would say one thing," Lynch said immediately after the court was gaveled to order. "This case is apparently of sufficient interest that it's being broadcast. I don't know who is going to watch it, if anyone," he said, smiling.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2014/09/03/three-quarters-of-americans-want-cameras-in-the-supreme-court-as-one-federal-judge-demonstrates-why-some-of-his-colleagues-dont/