Citing a lack of editorial independence, the U.S. Senate Press Gallery withdrew press credentials from the Supreme Court website SCOTUSblog. The Press Gallery said the site was not sufficiently independent from its law firm. SCOTUSblog publisher Tom Goldstein is also a principal in Goldstein &Russell LLP. Goldstyein said the site needs the Senate credential to cover nominations to the Court and the budget process. (Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, June 23, 2014, by Danielle Keeton-Olsen)
The blog is appealing the rejection to the Senate Rules Committee. The blog has run award-winning commentary on the Supreme Court that Goldstein insists is objective and neutral and independent of his law firm. The Press Gallery has recommended some changes to increase its separation from the law firm. (Roll Call, June 23, 2014, by Hannah Hess)
Eugene Volokh, Volokh Conspiracy, June 23, 2014, regrets the denial of a press credential to a blog that he says is “the most important and valuable source of news and analysis about the Supreme Court.” He says that the blog offers commentary beyond what a reporter relatively unschooled in the law can provide by running news and analysis by experts in particular areas of the law.