The controversial Proposition 8 same-sex marriage ban is back in California courts and this time around the trial proceedings will be broadcast on YouTube.
The San Francisco Chronicle reports that a California judge ruled earlier today to broadcast the trial as allowed by a pilot program approved last month. The program permits the "telecasting of selected nonjury civil trials" and could be a bold move for further opening up government proceedings to the eyes of its citizens.
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The trial will not be broadcast live, however. Instead, it will be recorded and broadcast on delay, giving the judge the ability to have witnesses' faces blocked out or voices muted. Prop 8 supporters are pushing to stop the trial's broadcasting altogether, saying that it might discourage witnesses from testifying.
Ironically, the Pro-8 camp made frequent use of YouTube in the run-up to the election. Both sides of the debate posted a number of much-watched videos on the site supporting and opposing Prop 8. Media organizations, including Chronicle-owner Hearst Corp., are pushing for a real-time broadcast of the proceedings.
The trial begins on Monday, January 11, and will be available for viewing on YouTube sometime later that day or early the next.
Here's hoping the Internet can shine a light in another dark corner of democracy.
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