Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/boundvolumes/558bv.pdf
Page Number: 352

Cite as: 558 U. S. 183 (2010) 

191 

Per Curiam 

ute  in  revising  its  local  rules,  applicants  have  shown  a  fair 
prospect  that  a  majority  of  this  Court  will  either  grant  a 
petition  for a  writ of  certiorari and  reverse the  order below 
or will grant a petition for a writ of mandamus. 

A  district  court  has  discretion  to  adopt  local  rules.  Fra­
zier  v.  Heebe,  482  U. S.  641,  645  (1987)  (citing  28  U. S. C. 
§ 2071; Fed. Rule Civ. Proc. 83).  Those rules have “the force 
of  law.”  Weil  v.  Neary,  278  U. S.  160,  169  (1929).  Federal 
law, however, requires a district court to follow certain pro­
cedures to adopt or amend a local rule.  Local rules typically 
may not be amended unless the district court “giv[es] appro­
priate  public  notice  and  an  opportunity  for  comment.”  28 
U. S. C.  § 2071(b);  see  also  Fed.  Rule  Civ.  Proc.  83(a).  A 
limited  exception  permits  dispensing  with  this  notice-and­
comment  requirement  only  where  “there  is  an  immediate 
need for a rule.”  § 2071(e).  Even where a rule is amended 
based  on  immediate  need,  however,  the  issuing  court  must 
“promptly  thereafter  afford . . .  notice  and  opportunity  for 
comment.”  Ibid. 

Before  late  December,  the  court’s  Local  Rule  77–3  explic­

itly banned the broadcast of court proceedings: 

“Unless  allowed  by  a  Judge  or  a  Magistrate  Judge 
with  respect  to  his  or  her  own  chambers  or  assigned 
courtroom for ceremonial purposes, the taking of photo­
graphs,  public  broadcasting  or  televising,  or  recording 
for  those  purposes  in  the  courtroom  or  its  environs,  in 
connection  with  any  judicial  proceeding,  is  prohibited. 
Electronic  transmittal  of  courtroom  proceedings  and 
presentation  of  evidence  within  the  conﬁnes  of  the 
courthouse  is  permitted,  if  authorized  by  the  Judge  or 
Magistrate Judge.  The term ‘environs,’  as used in this 
rule, means all ﬂoors on which chambers, courtrooms or 
on which Ofﬁces of the Clerk are located, with the excep­
tion  of  any  space  speciﬁcally  designated  as  a  Press 
Room.  Nothing  in  this  rule  is  intended  to  restrict  the