Tonight would you rather watch Law and Order or Supreme Court Live?
Yes, it's a trick question because the second choice doesn't exist. Nor is it likely to in the near future.
But perhaps the tide is changing.
Our newest Supreme Court Justice, Elena Kagan, said in her confirmation hearings that she would be in favor of televising Supreme Court proceedings.
"I think it would be a terrific thing to have cameras in the courtroom," she said. "When you see what happens there, it's an inspiring sight."
We think so, too.
Inspiring, interesting, informative and, sadly, improbable.
The decision to bring cameras into the courtroom would have to be unanimous, and there are enough sitting justices opposed to the idea that the whole thing is pretty much a moot point -- at least for now.
Justice Anthony Kennedy is afraid that cameras would dumb down the system. He said, "We teach, by having no cameras, that we are different. We are judged by what we write. We are judged over a much longer term. We're not judged by what we say."
To read the complete editorial, visit www.tri-cityherald.com.