THIS HONORABLE COURT
THIS HONORABLE COURT
Unedited version of "This Honorable Court", regarding the history of the Supreme Court. Originally shot on film. Some archival footage.
THIS HONORABLE COURT
Color archival shots regarding the release of the Presidential tapes: EXT shot of White House, 3/4 view; MSs of President RICHARD NIXON and JOHN MITCHELL working in Oval Office; panning LS of crowd of people on terrace of Supreme Court building; MS crowd of reporters, cameramen; VO says Supreme Court ruling forces Nixon to hand over White House tapes to prosecutors;
THIS HONORABLE COURT
CU page of U.S. v. Nixon decision. MS of ARCHIBALD COX (Watergate Special Prosecutor, describing Nixon's eventual decision to comply.
THIS HONORABLE COURT
Archival color MS of RON ZIEGLER giving White House press briefing; then, Nixon lawyer JAMES St. CLAIR speaks to press; MSs reporters working in press room; VO says Nixon left mark on court, esp. in trimming back rights of criminals; nice EST shot Supreme Court Building.
THIS HONORABLE COURT
MS unidentified white man discusses Supreme Court's treatment of Nixon objectives, saying only criminal justice worked out as Nixon planned, that the Burger court made major decisions in other areas.
THIS HONORABLE COURT
DO NOT USE B&W shots WITH TIME CODE of protesters outside Supreme Court. Marchers carrying anti-abortion signs, chanting in protest of Roe v. Wade. Shot of RONALD REAGAN walking in 1981 inaugural parade.
THIS HONORABLE COURT
Great EST shot of the Capitol Building, azure sky.
THIS HONORABLE COURT
DO NOT USE Shot of SANDRA DAY O'CONNOR walking on Capitol steps for confirmation hearings. Shot of Ms. O'Connor, standing next to GEORGE BUSH, accepting nomination. Shot of Senate Judiciary Committee. Shot of WILLIAM REHNQUIST at confirmation hearings for Chief Justice position, being sworn in by STROM THURMOND. Shots of Mr. Rehnquist giving what could be called evasive answers to questions by Senator HOWARD METZENBAUM. Shot of ANTONIN SCALIA entering confirmation hearings. Shot of Justice LEWIS POWELL announcing retirement. Shot of ROBERT BORK entering confirmation hearings.
THIS HONORABLE COURT
Unidentified white man comments on BORK'S aggressive criticism of the Court's philosophy.
THIS HONORABLE COURT
DO NOT USE Shot of Senate Judiciary Committee holding Bork confirmation hearings. Split screen of TED KENNEDY and ROBERT BORK arguing over Bork's ultra-conservative legal philosophy. Other Senators grill Mr. Bork, who answers arrogantly, seemingly aware but not concerned that his judicial philosophy as articulated has an air of hostility to liberty and justice that may scare many people. Clip of anti-Bork commercial, urging voters to enact reprisals if their Senators vote to confirm him. Shot of hands operating telephones, photocopiers running off newspaper clippings. Shot of a newspaper ad attacking Bork's anti-abortion views. Shot of anti-Bork protesters, waving signs, chanting "DOWN WITH THE REAGAN COURT". Shot of a woman protest leader, says Bork will never be tolerated, and if he's confirmed, people will not obey his laws.
THIS HONORABLE COURT
MCU of former Attorney General ED MEESE lamenting that liberals made the Bork confirmation into a "political circus", that the nomination process was circumvented by the vociferous anti-Bork sentiment.
THIS HONORABLE COURT
DO NOT USE Shots of Senators Joe Biden announcing in hearings that he rejects Bork. Shot of ROBERT BORK looking very angry.
THIS HONORABLE COURT
Shot of unidentified white man saying that the life tenure of Justices is tolerable b/c the people's elected representatives have the power of confirmation. Panning shot of sidewalk and street adjacent to Supreme Court, pan to EST shot of building. Dolly in shot through parted red velvet curtains to Supreme Court chamber, judicial bench. MSs of WILLIAM REHNQUIST and ANTHONY KENNEDY walking out of Court building, past columns; MS of cameramen, reporters at base of steps. MSs of Justice KENNEDY and family gathering for photo, cameramen taking pictures.
THIS HONORABLE COURT
MS of ARCHIBALD COX discussing the dilemma between following precedent and attempting to do right. Shots of main hall of Supreme Court building, shot of statue of JOHN MARSHALL, shot of Justice conference room. Shot of a federal judge describing Court's role in government. Panning INT shot of old Court chamber in Capitol building, MSs benches and seats.