Immediate update: Supreme Court arguments about Trump’s tax and financial records

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Supreme Court has listening to oral arguments for the first time via teleconference. The audio of the trial was also broadcast live for the first time in 230 years of court history. (But there is still no TV camera).

Just last week, Chief Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg undergo non-surgical treatment for benign gallbladder conditions and participate in oral arguments Wednesday by telephone from the hospital. He later may go home from the hospital.

What has changed: Under the new system, each justice, in the order of seniority, gets a few minutes to examine each side. There were no interruptions by other judges or cross-talk. Chief Judge John Roberts in general time limit specified, cutting off the conversation in the middle of the stream.

Traditionally, oral arguments give lawyers the opportunity to ask questions, but they also provide initial opportunities for judges to assert their own position and try to persuade coworkers. Instead of asking the usual questions, nine ask limited questions without an exchange between them.

These cases will initially be tried at the end of March and early April but are postponed due to health problems related to the case corona virus