CNN: Inside the Supreme Court
Summary
TLDRThe script offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at the Supreme Court's iconic building on its 75th anniversary. It highlights the architectural intent to evoke a sense of monumental importance, with Greco-Roman temple design and marble predominant in its construction. The library, despite less frequent use due to the internet, remains a historic hub for justices. Traditions like the use of quill pens and the courtroom's unchanged appearance since its first case add to its charm. The script also notes the building's blend with other Washington landmarks and the enduring impact of the court on American society.
Takeaways
- 🏛️ The Supreme Court building aims to convey a sense of monumentality, reflecting the significance of the institution and the decisions made within.
- 📚 The Supreme Court's law library, with 600,000 volumes, is a historic place where justices have traditionally sought scholarly input for their opinions.
- 💼 The building's design is Greco-Roman temple-style, symbolizing a temple of justice, and was constructed with a focus on blending with surrounding architectural landmarks.
- 🚫 Despite the advent of the internet, the physical library remains an irreplaceable part of the court's tradition and history.
- 📈 The Supreme Court has a rich history, with only 17 chief justices compared to 44 presidents over the same period, highlighting the court's enduring nature.
- 🏛️ The building, opened in 1935, is relatively young at 75 years old, yet it houses traditions and symbols that date back much further.
- 📸 Photography is strictly limited in the Supreme Court, with only two known pictures of the court in session from the 1930s, emphasizing the court's privacy.
- 💰 The original construction cost of the Supreme Court was $9.7 million, with approximately $3.5 million spent solely on marble, indicating the grandeur and permanence intended for the building.
- 📖 The courtroom has remained virtually unchanged since its first case, preserving the traditions and atmosphere of past judicial proceedings.
- 🔒 Security concerns have led to the closure of the court's sweeping doors, which were originally intended to symbolize open access to justice for all.
Q & A
What is the significance of the architectural design of the Supreme Court building?
-The architectural design aims to make the court's appearance feel monumental, signifying the importance of the proceedings happening within the building.
How old is the Supreme Court building?
-The Supreme Court building is 75 years old, which is relatively young compared to many other buildings in Washington, D.C.
Why was the Supreme Court previously considered 'homeless'?
-For almost 150 years, the Supreme Court did not have a permanent home, meeting in various locations such as New York City, Philadelphia, and the old Senate chamber in Washington, D.C.
Who was instrumental in securing the funding for the construction of the Supreme Court building?
-Chief Justice William Howard Taft was key in convincing Congress to fund the construction of a permanent home for the Supreme Court in 1929.
What material was predominantly used in the construction of the Supreme Court building, and how much was spent on it?
-Marble was the predominant material used, with approximately $3.5 million spent on it out of the original $9.7 million budget.
What is the design inspiration behind the Supreme Court building?
-The design of the building is inspired by a Greco-Roman temple, symbolizing a temple of justice.
How has the use of the law library at the Supreme Court changed over time?
-The law library, once a vital resource for justices, is not used as much due to the convenience of the internet, but it remains an irreplaceable part of the court's history and tradition.
What are some of the traditions maintained in the Supreme Court courtroom?
-The Supreme Court maintains traditions such as the justices entering the courtroom in groups of three from behind red curtains and providing quill pens at the desks of attorneys arguing before the court.
Which historic cases have been decided in the Supreme Court courtroom?
-Historic cases such as 'Brown v. Board of Education', which led to the integration of public schools, and 'Bush v. Gore' have been decided in the Supreme Court courtroom.
What are some of the details that give the Supreme Court building its power and charm?
-Details like ornate carvings of great lawgivers, small turtles on the lampposts symbolizing the deliberate pace of justice, and portraits of every former justice lining the walls contribute to the building's power and charm.
How does the Supreme Court building reflect the balance between tradition and evolution?
-The Supreme Court building is an ever-evolving institution built on tradition, as seen in the enduring traditions and the historical significance of the courtroom, while also adapting to modern security concerns, such as the closure of the sweeping doors due to security reasons.
Outlines
🏛️ Architectural Significance of the Supreme Court
The paragraph discusses the architectural design of the Supreme Court building, which aims to convey a sense of monumentality and importance. The building's design is intended to blend with other Washington D.C. landmarks like the Library of Congress and the Capitol. The Supreme Court's impact is described as immeasurable, and the paragraph highlights the rarity of behind-the-scenes access to the building. The building's age is noted as relatively young at 75 years, and the use of marble in its construction is emphasized, with a significant portion of the original budget dedicated to this material. The design is likened to a Greco-Roman temple, symbolizing justice.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Supreme Court
💡Great Hall
💡Greco-Roman temple
💡Marble
💡Homeless period
💡William Howard Taft
💡Law library
💡Brown v. Board of Education
💡Bush v. Gore
💡Traditions
💡Ornate carvings
Highlights
The Supreme Court building aims to feel monumental, reflecting the importance of the institution.
Rare behind-the-scenes access to the Supreme Court on its 75th anniversary.
The Supreme Court's impact on American society is described as almost immeasurable.
Only two known pictures exist of the court in session, smuggled in during the 1930s.
The building is relatively young at 75 years old, compared to other Washington buildings.
Architects designed the Supreme Court to blend with the Library of Congress and the Capitol.
The Supreme Court was without a permanent home for nearly 150 years.
Chief Justice William Howard Taft was instrumental in securing funding for the court's construction in 1929.
The building opened in 1935, marking a milestone for the court.
Marble is the predominant material used in the construction, costing $3.5 million of the original $9.7 million budget.
The design of the building is inspired by Greco-Roman temple architecture, symbolizing a temple of justice.
The court's law library contains 600,000 volumes and is a historic place for justices.
The Internet has reduced the library's usage, but it remains an irreplaceable part of the court's tradition.
Historic cases like 'Brown v. Board of Education' and 'Bush v. Gore' were decided in the courtroom.
The courtroom and its traditions, including the use of quill pens, have remained largely unchanged.
The justices' entrance in groups of three and the use of red curtains are part of the court's traditions.
Ornate carvings above the courtroom depict great lawgivers, including Moses and a rare depiction of the prophet Mohammed.
Small turtles on the lamppost outside symbolize the deliberate pace of justice.
Portraits of every former justice line the walls where new justices are sworn in.
The court has had 17 chief justices compared to 44 presidents over the same period.
The Supreme Court is an ever-evolving institution built on tradition.
Sweeping doors leading into the court, symbolizing access to justice for all, have been closed due to security concerns.
Transcripts
bjbjLULU MATT HOFSTEDT, ASSOCIATE CURATOR, SUPREME COURT: This is part of the architectural
plan to try to make the appearance of the court feel monumental and to give the sense
that there's important things happening in this building. KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT
(voice-over): We're in the Great Hall of the Supreme Court, about to enter the most important
courtroom of the land. The Supreme Court's impact is almost immeasurable. Few ever have
the chance to get behind the scenes of this iconic building. Only two pictures exist of
the court actually in session, and those cameras were smuggled in, in the 1930s. But on the
75th anniversary of the high court's home, we gained rare access to this place. (on camera)
It's sure to surprise many people that this building, actually, the permanent home of
the Supreme Court, is only 75 years old, which is kind of young in relative terms to many
of the buildings here in Washington. CATHERINE FITTS, CURATOR, SUPREME COURT: Right, exactly.
And that was one of the tasks that was assigned to the architects. They wanted to make sure
that this building blended in with the Library of Congress next door and also with the Capitol.
BOLDUAN (voice-over): For almost 150 years the Supreme Court was basically homeless.
The court met in New York City, Philadelphia, and then the old Senate chamber in Washington.
Not until 1929 did then Chief Justice William Howard Taft finally convince Congress to fund
construction of a permanent home. The building opened in 1935. Catherine Fitts is the head
curator here. FITTS: Marble is most definitely the predominant material that's used. In fact,
the original $9.7 million, they spent about $3.5 million just on the marble alone. The
design for the building is a Greco-Roman temple, kind of a temple of justice. BOLDUAN: The
high court's associate curator, Matt Hofstedt, then took us to the court's law library, an
historic place where justices have long visited to consult the wisdom of justices past in
the library's 600,000 volumes. HOFSTEDT: The library is a very vibrant part of what the
court does, because you needs that sort of scholarly input in the opinion- writing process.
BOLDUAN: Now with the ease of the Internet, the library isn't used nearly as much, but
this room is a different story. It can never be replaced, the courtroom where historic
cases such as "Brown v. Board of Education," integrating public schools, "Bush v. Gore"
and many more have all been decided. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, yea, oh, yea... BOLDUAN: And the
courtroom and tradition and even furniture has gone virtually unchanged since the first
case was heard. HOFSTEDT: Some of the traditions you'll see here in the courtroom are the three
justices coming out in three groups from behind the red curtains. And some of the other traditions
are, to this day, the court still puts quill pens at the desks of the attorneys who will
be arguing before the court. Sort of a throwback to the John Marshall years. BOLDUAN: Still,
the justices are notoriously camera shy, and much of the government building, like their
chambers, remains off limits. And while a grand building, we found the little details
hidden from most visitors are what give the court's home its power and charm. Ornate carvings
above the courtroom, showing great law givers of the past, like Moses with the Ten Commandments,
and a rare image of the prophet Mohammed. Small turtles on the lamppost outside, signifying
the deliberate pace of justice. And portraits of every former justice lining the walls where
the new justices are sworn in. HOFSTEDT: This allows you to go through the history of the
court in only 16 or 17 people, and we've had 44 presidents now. There's only been 17 chief
justices in that same period of time. BOLDUAN: An ever-evolving court, yet a place built
on tradition, and an institution leaving lasting imprints on the fabric of American society.
(on camera) But on rare occasion, that imprint works the other way around. These sweeping
doors leading into the court were meant to symbolize access to justice for all, but they've
now been closed as a public entrance because of security concerns. Kate Bolduan urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags
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place MATT HOFSTEDT, ASSOCIATE CURATOR, SUPREME COURT: This is part of the architectural plan
to try to make the appearance of the court feel monumental and to give the sense that
there's important things happening in this building Normal.dot Microsoft Office Word
Turner Broadcasting System, INC MATT HOFSTEDT, ASSOCIATE CURATOR, SUPREME COURT: This is
part of the architectural plan to try to make the appearance of the court feel monumental
and to give the sense that there's important things happening in this building Title Microsoft
Office Word Document MSWordDoc Word.Document.8
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