The New York Court of Appeals last week heard oral arguments on the constitutionality of Civil Rights Law sec. 52, which essentially prevents the televising or broadcasting of court proceedings in New York (the statue is more intricate than that description).  Courtroom Television Networks challenged the constitutionality of the statute, writing this fantastic brief.  The State argued that the statute was constitutional in this equally impressive brief.

The Appellate Division, First Department upheld the constitutionality of the statute, and the Court of Appeals will likely render a decision on the issue by the end of the 2004-2005 Term.  Here is the Associate Press article on the arguments reprinted at the First Amendment Center.