Boston, MA --- The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, in partnership with Suffolk University Law School, today announced the establishment of a pilot program to provide attorneys, students, media, and the general public with live Internet broadcasts of oral arguments before the Supreme Judicial Court. This is the first time in Massachusetts that the Supreme Judicial Court and a law school have collaborated on such a technologically-advanced venture.

           Suffolk University Law School, which was selected following the Court’s request for proposals, will broadcast the live arguments from its website beginning in May. The arguments can be viewed and heard online during the May sitting of the Supreme Judicial Court at www.suffolk.edu/sjc starting at 9:00 a.m. on May 2, 3, 5, and 6, 2005. A schedule and brief summary of the court cases to be broadcast are available on the website.

           Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Margaret H. Marshall said, " I am delighted that students, attorneys, and citizens everywhere will now have live access to our appellate proceedings. People yearn to understand how the judicial system works and web broadcasts will enable them to witness the live dialogue between Justices and lawyers on legal matters affecting everyone's lives. I applaud Suffolk University Law School for its willingness to partner with the Court in this new venture."

          "Suffolk University Law School is honored to be in partnership with the Supreme Judicial Court on this unique and purposeful program," said Suffolk University Law School Dean Robert H. Smith. "What intrigues me the most is that people of all ages and from all walks of life will now have an opportunity to hear attorneys' presentations and justices' questions without setting foot in the courtroom. This allows everyone to experience an important part of the appellate process firsthand in a timely manner."

         The Supreme Judicial Court, originally called the Superior Court of Judicature, was established in 1692 and is the oldest appellate court in continuous existence in the Western Hemisphere. Massachusetts operates under the oldest, still functioning written constitution in the world - the Massachusetts Constitution was adopted by the Legislature in 1780. The Supreme Judicial Court, the Appeals Court and the Social Law Library, the nation's oldest law library established in 1803, are housed in the newly renovated John Adams Courthouse in Pemberton Square in Boston. The courthouse was dedicated on March 31, 2005.

          Suffolk University Law School is located in the heart of downtown Boston just blocks from the Adams Courthouse. For 100 years, it has remained one of the most respected names in legal education. Its expansive curriculum - more than 200 upper-level elective courses, specialty concentrations, joint-degree programs and an LL.M. in global technology - enables students to gain a strong academic foundation. A wide range of hands-on experience, including clinical programs, internships and moot court competitions, provides students the practical skills necessary to succeed. Suffolk Law's diverse and supportive community comes together in Sargent Hall, which was dedicated in 1999 and is among the country's most inspiring, modern and technologically advanced settings for the study of law.