[JURIST] The US Supreme Court [official website] will provide copies of oral argument transcripts on the Court's website the same day that cases are heard when the Court begins its new term on October 2, the court announced [press release] Thursday. In the past, the Court has offered same-day transcripts only in the rarest of cases with overwhelming public interest, such as the 2000 Bush v. Gore [transcript] decision. Otherwise, the public had to wait approximately two weeks before the transcripts became available online, unless individuals purchased them for hundreds of dollars from a reporting service. The transcripts will be made with the assistance of a court reporter in the Courtroom, making it unnecessary to send audio recordings off-site for later review.

Same-day transcription represents a significant institutional move toward public access under the leadership of Chief Justice John Roberts. Last November the Court authorized the quick release of audio recordings [press release] of oral arguments in the Ayotte v. Planned Parenthood and Rumsfeld v. FAIR cases. The Court nonetheless continues to oppose televising its proceedings [JURIST report], despite political urgings to do so [JURIST report]. The Washington Post has more.