Argument Audio: The Four Holdout Circuits

Most federal appellate decisions are final, and arguments are an important part of that process. See "Before Supreme Court TV, How About This?" More and more, courts are opening these public proceedings to the public, via the Internet.

On Wednesday, Appellate Daily was able to announce that the D.C. Circuit will post argument audio online, starting in September. The D.C. Circuit joins the U.S. Supreme Court and eight federal appellate courts that post audio online.

That leaves only four holdout circuits.

The Second, Sixth, and Eleventh Circuits offer audio CDs for purchase. The Tenth Circuit requires a motion to obtain audio; if granted, a copy is emailed. In a phone call this week, the Tenth Circuit clerk's office said those motions are routinely granted.

A few notes on the future:

*The Tenth Circuit seems close to posting online. It already offers free e-audio, just not on its website. It's like the moment when a child is deciding whether to approach or back away from an unfamiliar animal. The Tenth Circuit is curious, but wants to make sure this animal doesn't bite. I think the court will find it doesn't and make the change.

*Perhaps a year ago, I phoned the Second Circuit to inquire about the status of its audio policy. At the time, the clerk's office said that the idea of online access had been floated, but that the court was in the process of a renovation. Once that work was done, the clerk's office said, the court would be in a better position to take up the question. With the renovation now complete, will the Second Circuit increase access?

*The Eleventh Circuit has already made significant progress. Its previous policy was even worse than the D.C. Circuit's: no public access (even for parties and even for closed cases). In 2010, I wrote letters to several circuits, asking for online access to argument audio. Eleventh Circuit Chief Judge Joel Dubina kindly responded that the court would consider the idea, though it did not make immediate change. In 2012, the Eleventh Circuit began offering audio CDs for purchase. With the big leap to public audio already made, perhaps the court will be open to posting online, now just an incremental change? [fn1]

*Posting online would save court staff time in these four circuits. Staff in "CD" circuits would not have to produce CD copies and mail them. The Tenth Circuit could avoid reviewing motions and sending emails. All four circuits could field fewer calls and process fewer forms. Interested parties could just point and click online.

Stay tuned.
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1) The Fourth Circuit also kindly responded to the 2010 letter and took action within months to put audio on the Internet. As with all courts, the Fourth Circuit undoubtedly had been thinking about changes, independent of outside voices. But it is heartening that the courts do consider citizen viewpoints.

Post Follow-Up: 11th Circuit Chief Judge Response

Earlier this month, Appellate Daily ran a post advocating greater access to oral argument audio at the circuit court level. Seven circuit courts provide free, online audio access, while six do not. I sent a short letter to the chief judges of those six courts (2d, 4th, 6th, 10th, 11th, and D.C. Circuits), enclosing the post and thanking them for their consideration of increased access.

Chief Judge Joel Dubina of the Eleventh Circuit responded with a kind letter, indicating that he, "or one of our court committees, will present [the idea of increased audio access] at our next court administrative meeting, which is in February 2011. The court can then decide if it wants to change our policy." Full letter here. As noted in the earlier post, the Eleventh Circuit has the most restrictive policy of all circuits (only internal court use; no public access).

Readers who would benefit from increased access to Eleventh Circuit audio may also want to consider writing the court, as the Chief Judge has noted a specific time for consideration of the issue.

Eleventh Circuit: The Judge Camp Mess, First Steps

Per a law.com article, Eleventh Circuit Chief Judge Joel Dubina "has postponed taking any action regarding misconduct proceedings until after the federal charges against Camp are resolved."  Camp is, of course, federal district judge Jack T. Camp (N.D. Ga.), who was arrested last Friday "on federal drug and gun charges."

Although Eleventh Circuit misconduct proceedings will be delayed, Judge Camp's caseload is being reassigned.  On Wednesday, Chief Judge Dubina reassigned one of Camp's cases to another federal district judge, William Stafford.  Ironically, the charges at issue there relate to the defendant's plan to kill federal district judge William Steele and a prosecutor, through a hit man, thus involving three federal district judges in one case: Camp, Stafford, and Steele.

For more on Chief Judge Dubina, see this earlier Appellate Daily: Judges Series spotlight of him.

Judges Series: Chief Judge Joel Dubina

It would be an understatement to say that Chief Judge Joel Dubina of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit has a unique understanding of the federal court system.  He has served as a federal judge since 1983, at four different levels: magistrate, district judge, appellate judge, and now, chief appellate judge.  Among other points of interest, Chief Judge Dubina was on the Elian Gonzalez panel and has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro.  More below: