Supreme embarrassment: The flush heard around the country

[turbinetree]

By Ariane de Vogue, CNN Supreme Court Reporter

Updated 5:01 PM ET, Wed May 6, 2020

(CNN)Well, someone forgot to mute.

The Supreme Court was making history Wednesday afternoon, holding arguments over the phone because of Covid-19, when all of a sudden there was the distinct sound of a toilet flushing.

Across the country, the public that has never before this week been able to listen in real time to oral arguments held remotely was treated not only to deep questions related to the First Amendment and robocalls but also to someone's apparent bathroom break.

The errant flush from an unknown source comes as the justices, lawyers and the country are dealing with the new realities -- and hazards -- of conducting their business over teleconference lines.

The case at issue concerned the Telephone Consumer Protection Act that prohibits unwanted calls to cellphones by use of an automated system. Challengers say one provision violates the Constitution. Lawyer Roman Martinez, representing political groups challenging the law, was pressing his point when the offending flush occurred.

CORRECTION: This story has been updated to correctly spell Roman Martinez's first name.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/06/politics/toilet-flush-supreme-court-oral-arguments/index.html

[47of74]

1. Someone dropped a Judicial Deuce

[Sogo]

2. Better a flushing sound

than other possible bathroom noises....

[manhattan123]

3. It was probably Clarence Thomas

He had just watched his favorite Long Dong movie and was getting rid of the Kleenex.