Technomaly

California’s federal trial on the constitutionality of Prop 8, a publicly voted state act that banned same-sex marriage, will be broadcast on YouTube.

Chief U.S. District Judge Vaugn Walker introduced the idea several months ago, stating, “I always thought that if people could see how the judiciary really works, they would take a somewhat different view of it.”

The trial won’t be broadcast live to YouTube – federal employees will be operating the cameras and uploading the taped transmissions – but it’s still our first ever look into the federal judicial system. You’d have to be a real nerd to be excited about this, and I am very excited.

I’ll also say that, from a purely tactical standpoint, this move is going to benefit the liberal case more than the conservative case. In the fight for Prop 8, conservatives have routinely tried to keep the names of conservative donors secret, lest those donors face boycotts and backlash. Liberals have hit back, claiming that campaign finance laws are good for democracy – we want to know who’s donating what to whom – and so far Liberals have kept the legal high ground.

I live in Los Angeles, where local mexican restaurant El Cantina faced a boycott when it was revealed that a co-owner had donated to the anti-gay marriage movement. That co-owner had to divest from the company, as they’d lost so much business they nearly went under.

Opponents of cameras in the courtroom state that it’ll lead to witnesses against same-sex marriage will face intimidation and harassment. Which is true, they completely will. But nobody ever said standing up for your convictions was easy.

Source: CNN