A bipartisan group of senators reignited a longtime endeavor on Thursday to place cameras in the Supreme Court, an institution few Americans witness firsthand.

The Cameras in the Courtroom Act, led in the Senate by Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and ranking member Dick Durbin (D-IL), would require the nation’s top court to allow televised coverage of its open sessions.

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Justices could prevent video proceedings on a case-by-case basis if a majority of justices vote that showcasing a session would violate the due process rights of one or more parties before the court. Oral arguments and open sessions have live audio for the public but can only be seen with in-person viewing on a first-come, first-served basis.

“Allowing cameras access to the federal and Supreme Courts would boost transparency and help Americans grow in confidence and understanding of the judiciary,” Grassley said.

Durbin added that cameras would offer Americans a window into the “arguments and decisions in cases that will affect them for generations to come.”

The Supreme Court did not respond to a request for comment.

The venture for increased transparency that Congress has long been unable or unwilling to achieve comes as President Donald Trump’s executive orders are likely to significantly increase the justices’ caseloads.

Efforts to allow cameras have recurred for decades, often framed as a push for transparency. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, including Grassley and bill co-sponsor Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), have previously backed such proposals, including a similar bipartisan bill in 2020. Past polls show a majority of Americans support adding cameras and believe it would bolster trust in rulings.

Seating is usually available on the day of an argument for a select few lucky enough to beat the crowds, making press coverage of the in-person proceedings all the more pivotal. Visitors often wait in line outside for a chance to get in and listen to the justices. There are 439 seats in the courtroom, but only 50 are reserved for the general public.

The high court currently offers live audio and is testing out a new online ticketing reservation system that allows the public to submit applications for seats and reduce the need for extended in-person queuing.

Despite the push by some lawmakers, the idea of cameras has faced stiff resistance from justices and other members of Congress.

In 1996, then-Justice David Souter famously said cameras would only enter over his “dead body.” Former Justice Stephen Breyer, the late Justice Antonin Scalia, and others warned cameras could cause jurists to behave more theatrical or performative, much like Congress has become in recent decades.

While cameras have long been prohibited, the Supreme Court began live streaming audio during the pandemic and continues to do so, while lower courts have experimented with remote access and limited live streams. The debate often resurfaces during confirmation hearings — including for Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Neil Gorsuch — but the court remains highly protective of its image. Grassley has advocated that cameras could demystify the judiciary.

There are also pilot programs in certain lower federal courts that allow the public to tune in for live audio recordings and occasionally video feeds.

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But with Chief Justice John Roberts himself expressing skepticism, video access to the nation’s highest court remains unlikely for now.

“I think if there were cameras, the lawyers would act differently. I think, frankly, some of my colleagues would act differently,” Roberts said in 2018. “And that would affect what we think is a very important and well-functioning part of the decision process. I don’t think there are a lot of public institutions that have been improved in how they do business by cameras.”