The mystery flush was clearly audible during live-streamed oral hearings in Barr v American Association of Political Consultants, Inc yesterday afternoon.

Attorney Roman Martinez, who was speaking during the time, continued unfazed while social media lit up with discussion of the flush.

The incident was branded “supreme embarrassment” by CNN, while Above the Law founder David Lat sympathised with Mr Martinez for becoming “the face of the SCOTUS toilet flush”.

This week marked the first time that oral arguments in the court have been streamed to the public, overcoming long-standing resistance to the move.