CNN and C-SPAN are petitioning the U.S. Supreme Court to allow television cameras into the courtroom for the first time on Dec. 1 to cover the high court's hearing on the current Florida election dispute.

As reported by today's (Monday) Daily Variety, C-SPAN chief Brian Lamb said in a letter to the court, "If the Court were to become involved in determining any aspect of the outcome of the election, the public interest in the Court and its role in our government would likely never be higher. We respectfully suggest that televised coverage of that role would be an immense public service and would help the country understand and accept the outcome of the election."

CNN has reportedly hired renowned First Amendment attorney Floyd Abrams to file a separate petition on Tuesday.

Source: Studio Briefing