CNN: Inside the Supreme Court

Summary

The 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

00:00

🏛️ 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.

Keywords

💡Supreme Court

The Supreme Court is the highest court in the federal judiciary of the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all federal courts and over state court cases involving issues of federal law, as well as original jurisdiction over a small range of cases. In the script, the Supreme Court is depicted as a monumental institution where important legal decisions are made, shaping the fabric of American society.

💡Great Hall

The Great Hall is a significant architectural feature of the Supreme Court building, serving as an entrance and a representation of the court's grandeur. It sets the tone for the visitor's experience, emphasizing the importance and solemnity of the court, as mentioned in the script when entering the most important courtroom of the land.

💡Greco-Roman temple

The term 'Greco-Roman temple' refers to the architectural style of the Supreme Court building, which is designed to resemble the temples of ancient Greece and Rome. This style was chosen to evoke a sense of timelessness and authority, as described in the script where it is mentioned that the design for the building is a temple of justice.

💡Marble

Marble is a key material used in the construction of the Supreme Court building, contributing to its monumental appearance. The script highlights that of the original $9.7 million spent on the building, about $3.5 million was allocated to marble alone, underscoring the importance of its use in creating a lasting and imposing structure.

💡Homeless period

The 'homeless period' refers to the time before the Supreme Court had a permanent building, during which it met in various locations such as New York City, Philadelphia, and the old Senate chamber in Washington. This historical context is mentioned in the script to contrast with the current, permanent home of the court.

💡William Howard Taft

William Howard Taft, who served as the 10th Chief Justice of the United States and the 27th President, is noted in the script for his role in convincing Congress to fund the construction of a permanent home for the Supreme Court. His efforts led to the opening of the building in 1935.

💡Law library

The law library of the Supreme Court is an important resource for the justices, containing 600,000 volumes that provide scholarly input for the opinion-writing process. Despite the advent of the Internet, the library remains a vital part of the court's functioning, as explained by Associate Curator Matt Hofstedt in the script.

💡Brown v. Board of Education

Brown v. Board of Education is a landmark decision by the Supreme Court that ruled racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. The script mentions this case as one of the historic decisions made within the courtroom, illustrating the court's impact on American society.

💡Bush v. Gore

Bush v. Gore is another significant case mentioned in the script, which determined the outcome of the 2000 U.S. presidential election. It is an example of how the Supreme Court's decisions can have far-reaching consequences and is emblematic of the high-stakes nature of cases heard in the courtroom.

💡Traditions

Traditions in the Supreme Court, such as the justices entering the courtroom in groups and providing quill pens to attorneys, are highlighted in the script as elements that have remained unchanged since the court's early days. These traditions contribute to the sense of continuity and respect for history within the institution.

💡Ornate carvings

Ornate carvings above the courtroom depict great lawgivers of the past, such as Moses with the Ten Commandments and a rare image of the prophet Mohammed. These carvings, as mentioned in the script, serve as a visual representation of the court's connection to historical figures and the broader tradition of law.

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

State urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags City urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags

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

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