Places – 15 - The United States Supreme Court

United States Supreme Court, Washington, D.C. (15 January 2015)

We all learned in school that our government is made up of three co-equal branches: The Legislative…Congress makes the laws; the Executive…the President and Administration execute the laws; and the Judiciary…the courts interpret and enforce the laws. Breaking away from the English monarchy where judicial matters were decided by royal courts meant our new republic was setting new standards when it came to establishing civil jurisprudence on the state and federal levels. We needed a final authority on national law and how new laws abided by the Constitution. It’s time to visit our ‘Temple of Justice.’

My career was often at the intersection of law and science. As an environmental issue manager, I had to understand new laws passed by legislatures and implementing regulations written by executive agencies. Sometimes, intractable issues brought industry, government and the public to court. Understanding how to navigate that process was part of the job.

The Contemplation of Justice by James Earle Fraser

United States Supreme Court, Washington, D.C. (30 June 2015)

When laws are challenged, we need the courts to confirm that they have a proper constitutional foundation. The Supreme Court is the highest tribunal in the land. The Court of Last Resort. The end of the line for such decisions.

Located on First Street NE, across from the Capitol, is the magnificent United States Supreme Court building. Completed in 1935, the structure was designed by Cass Gilbert, who also was the architect for three state capitol buildings (Arkansas, Minnesota and West Virginia). This means that the highest court in the land had no building of its own for the first 146 years of its existence. Up to then, it met in cramped, lower floors of the capitol and other available spaces. Because the conditions were so cramped and undesirable, some justices chose to work at home.

Stairway to Justice

United States Supreme Court

Washington, D.C. (30 June 2015)

The public spaces inside this heroic classical building are few. The ground floor has a small theater, some exhibit space and a few amenities. The first floor has a Great Hall and the hallowed courtroom…where even Images and More, with its considerable journalistic clout and reputation, was unable to take pictures. Marble busts of the Chief Justices line the walls of the Great Hall and shots of them will be included in a forthcoming quest. 

East Pediment, United States Supreme Court,

Washington, D.C. (30 June 2015)

Since the main entrance faces the Capitol, few visitors get to see the back side of the building. As one might expect from such a grand construction, symbolism and allegory are everywhere. The inscription in the front/west pediment says “Equal Justice Under Law.” The architects thought the rear inscription should say, “Equal Justice is the Foundation of Liberty.” Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes thought they could do better and suggested “Justice the Guardian of Liberty.” It is one of the few architectural elements suggested by a Justice.

Central Figures, East Pediment, United States

Supreme Court Building, Washington, D.C. (30 June 2015)

With the rear of the building facing east, the central pediment figures acknowledge the foundations of our laws are derived from the east. The central figures are Confucius, Moses and Solon.

Up the Spiral Staircase, United States Supreme Court,

Washington, D.C. (30 June 2015)

The building has two self-supporting, elliptical marble staircases. The cantilevered design means there is no central support for the five-story spiral. Each of the 136 steps is anchored to the outer wall and rests upon the step below it…a marvel of design and engineering.

The Court was established in 1789 by our first Congress. Here are some numbers to put the justices in perspective. Since 1789, there have been (as of January 3, 2019) 12,343 people who have served in one or both houses of Congress and only 114 justices who have served on the Supreme Court.

In the 230 years of the Court’s existence, we have had 45 presidents but just seventeen Chief Justices. Because I believe the Chief Justice of the United States is a position worthy of attention…and because I visit dead people, this post announces my intent to photograph their graves and post some recognition of the men (only men, so far) who have held these positions.