Judge Tubey

Generally speaking, an open society requires that its court system be fairly public. Or, put another way, secret trials are generally associated with repressive governments. So in the U.S. we have open courtrooms and reporters who cover trials. But that's Old Media. What about the New Media? Should high profile trials be recorded and placed on YouTube?

At issue is the federal court in San Francisco that is hearing arguments surrounding the legality of Proposition 8, the ballot measure that bans same-sex marriage in California. The judge in the case wants the proceedings made available on YouTube. Some others think that's not such a good idea. National Public Radio reports on the controversy.