Waiting (and Sleeping) in Line, for View of Health Care History (New York Times)

To get one of 60 seats available to the public inside the Supreme Court building, Monica Haymond, a 23-year-old legal assistant, arrived 63 hours before arguments in the health reform law were to begin. “We were hoping to be the first people here, but apparently it was more competitive than we had ever imagined,” Haymond said. Anyone who wants to attend a judicial or Congressional hearing can hire someone to stand in line for them for $36 to $50 an hour. Some in line felt the Court should not have declined the request for televised coverage. “This is a momentous case,” said Kathie McClure, a trial lawyer from Atlanta. “Insurance coverage for 30 million people is on the line, and we’re having to sleep on the sidewalk to get a peep at what goes on in there?” An audio recording will be available online following each day of arguments.