It looked as though the Perry et al v. Schwarzenegger et al case attempting to have Prop 8 overturned was going to be broadcast on YouTube. But a last-minute emergency appeal to stop the broadcast was granted, and this online video first will now not happen.
Proposition 8
is the highly controversial California law amendment which effectively overturned the State’s decision to allow same-sex couple to marry and have their unions recognized in law.
It was one of the propositions to be added to the November 2008 elections. And its passing meant the line, “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California” was added to the California Constitution.
TV To The Web
The prosecution requested that the trial should be allowed to be filmed for broadcast. Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker of San Francisco agreed to the request, but insisted the trial should be broadcast on YouTube rather than television.
It would have been part of a new pilot program to allow footage from non-jury civil trials to be broadcast on TV.
No Broadcast
The trial began yesterday morning, but according to MediaMemo, a few hours before it did, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that no cameras or broadcast on YouTube would take place.
The defense, those people backing Prop 8, sought to have cameras banned from the courtroom, claiming that they would be intimidated and harassed were their identities and beliefs revealed to such public scrutiny.
Conclusions
I can understand where the defense is coming from. Prop 8 and its inclusion in California law is such an emotive and highly-charged issue that there is a danger of the whole thing becoming a circus and people’s lives and livelihoods being at risk.
However, I still think it’s a shame this isn’t being broadcast on YouTube, as it would have made a local concern as global as it’s possible to be. And it would truly have tested YouTube and the power of online video to the limit.
