Court of Current Issues

Court of Current Issues (initially known as Court of Public Opinion) is a nontraditional court show featuring public-affairs debates. The program aired on the DuMont Television Network from February 9, 1948, through June 26, 1951. Originally a half-hour in length, it expanded to 60 minutes in 1949.

Overview
The program featured oral arguments on topical issues using the format of a courtroom. A judge presided, with people from both sides of the episode's topic taking the roles of attorneys and witnesses. People from "representative national groups" formed the jury, and viewers could call to vote for one of the sides.

Topics discussed on episodes included "Should Radio and Television Editorialize?", "Shall Federal Rent Controls Be Continued?", and "Does the Supreme Court Free Speech Decision Srengthen Our Democracy?".

People who appeared on the program included Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr., Shad Polier, Al Capp, Lev Gleason, Gerald Dickler, George Hamilton Combs, James Lawrence Fly, Arthur Garfield Hays and O. John Rogge,

Irvin Paul Sulds was the producer, and David Lowe was the director. The program was sustaining.

In its last two seasons, the series was scheduled opposite Milton Berle's popular Texaco Star Theater on NBC, hence it did not receive a wide audience.

Following its network demise, the program ran on local TV in New York "for some time".

Schedule
Note: All times Eastern; all broadcasts on Dumont

Episode status
A 14-minute fragment from the March 3, 1949 episode survives at the Paley Center for Media.

Critical response
In 1948 the Radio-Television Critics Circle of New York cited Court of Current Issues as one of several programs, networks, and individuals deserving of kudos for excellence in broadcasting.

United States Congressman Frederic Coudert Jr. recognized Sulds and Court of Current Issues in the Congressional Record in February 1950. His comments there praised the program's originator and stated his wishes that other programs like it might be developed. If so, he said, "We can look forward to a period in our immediate future when we will have the best informed public of any nation in the world."