A welcome window onto justice opened wide this week in Kansas, one that will help Kansans better understand, scrutinize and trust their justice system. As of Monday, oral arguments before the court can be seen as well as heard online, both via live, streaming video and later via the archive at www.kscourts. org. The high court has offered live audio streaming of arguments since 2004, but it expands the experience to see the attorneys argue their cases and handle justices’ questions. The cameras especially served the keen public interest in the long-running legal fight over a proposed coal-fired power plant near Holcomb, which was the subject of oral arguments Friday. The ability to watch one of the state’s appellate courts do its work live online – something only a dozen other states offer – also will help inform further legislative debates over Gov. Sam Brownback’s proposal to give him more say in who sits on those courts. Now, the Legislature needs to get in step with the majority of states and start streaming video of its activities.
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