Ninth Annual SoloSez Supreme Court Group Admission
Columbus Day Weekend, October 13 - 15, 2008
The itinerary below is tentative. The US Marshal’s Office and other agencies can make changes to security at anytime that may affect us. Also, the Supreme Court is currently undergoing a massive renovation that could affect us as well.
RESERVATIONS: Space is very limited. Reservations will be on a first come, first served basis. If you wish to reserve a space, please do so by return email. Please let me know: a) which day you prefer (Tuesday or Wednesday) b) your mailing address c) the number of guests you anticipate (which, I realize, will be very tentative at this point.)
Our group will consist of a maximum of 24 attorneys to be admitted. The Supreme Court limits us to 12 attorneys per day so our group will be divided into a Tuesday and Wednesday admission group. The dinner on Monday, however, is for all!
PLEASE REPLY TO: TerryBerger@ResidentAgentInfo.com
Please do NOT make any travel plans yet that are not fully refundable. I will let you know when all contracts are signed and everything is confirmed.
REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION:
Requirements for our group admission to the Bar of the Supreme Court of the United States:
1. Be admitted to practice law before the court of last resort of any state in the US, DC, or a United States territory prior to October 13, 2005.
2. $100 Bar Admission fee
Monday, October 13, 2008 (Columbus Day - a federal holiday)
6:00 PM: Gourmet dinner at The Monocle on Capitol Hill. The restaurant closes its doors to the public that evening. All applicants, family and friends are invited. A professional photographer will be present taking candid photos throughout the evening.
Dinner includes:
Paradise Salad
Your choice of
Roasted Beef Tenderloin with red wine sauce, wild mushrooms, potatoes and fresh seasonal vegetables
Chicken Breast Grilled with wild mushrooms, potatoes and fresh seasonal vegetables
Norwegian Salmon with Lump Crab Meat served with Chardonnay sauce, potatoes and fresh seasonal vegetables
Vegetarian Pasta with fresh seasonal vegetables
Your choice of
Chocolate Triumph Cake with raspberries and crème anglaise
Crème Brule
Assorted sorbets and Ice Cream
Soft drinks, Iced tea, Coffee, and Tea
Cash bar
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
7:30 AM -: Arrive at the Supreme Court for group and individual photos. Meet at the bottom of the steps at the corner of First and Maryland. In the case of inclement weather, we can take the photos indoors in front of the John Marshall statue.
8:15 – We will enter the Court using the Maryland Avenue side entrance. The police will escort our entire group to the private dining area.
8:30 AM – 9:30 AM: Breakfast buffet in the private Natalie Cornell Rehnquist Formal Dining Room. A professional photographer will be present taking candid photos throughout the breakfast.
Breakfast buffet tentatively includes:
Chilled fresh orange, grapefruit, and cranberry juices
Assorted fresh baked breakfast pastries
Assorted bagels with cream cheese and fruit preserves
Seasonal fresh fruit platter
Scrambled Eggs with Fresh Seasonal Herbs
Applewood Smoked Bacon
Link Turkey Sausages
Home-Style Red Bliss Potatoes with Caramelized Onions
Regular and decaffeinated Coffee
Assorted Teas
9:30 AM: Orientation provided to the group by the Supreme Court Chief Clerk Bill Suter
9:40 AM: Group and guests will be ushered into Courtroom (children under 8 are not permitted inside the Courtroom)
10:00 AM -10:10 AM: Swearing in ceremony before the Supreme Court sitting en banc. Oath administered by the Chief Justice.
10:10 AM -12:10 PM: Oral arguments before the Court sitting en banc for those who wish to stay. See note below.
??? - ??? – Buffet lunch – no details yet (New for this year’s group)
1:30 PM – 4:00 PM (approx): VIP tour of Supreme Court. You, your family and guests are invited to take a behind-the-scenes guided tour of the Supreme Court. (The tour is different year to year and depends upon the scheduling demands of the Curator's Office for that particular day and limitations due to fluid security concerns and construction schedules.) AND
VIP tour of the Library of Congress’ Thomas Jefferson Building led by a professionally trained Library docent. This building is recognized by many as being the most beautiful building in Washington.
Wednesday October 15, 2008
7:30 AM – 4:00 PM - Please see schedule for Tuesday.
ORAL ARGUMENTS
After the admissions ceremony, the Court will hear oral arguments. You and your guest(s) may stay for one or both of the oral arguments set for the day of your swearing-in. A synopsis of the cases to be heard on the days of our admission will be available around July 2008.
COST
The cost is currently estimated to be $295 for the attorney being admitted and $175 per guest. As the time gets closer and after I have signed all the contracts, I might need to make slight adjustments to the costs. The cost includes:
Dinner at The Monocle
Breakfast on the day of your admission
Lunch on the day of your admission (new for this year)
VIP tour of the Supreme Court
VIP tour of the Library of Congress
One 8 X 10 group photo for each applicant
One 5 X 7 photo either individual or with your spouse/guest/family for each applicant
CD-ROM collection of candid and formal photos for each applicant
NUMBER OF GUESTS
The official word is that each applicant is allowed one guest. Here is the unofficial word - you should be okay with more guests but admission to the Courtroom is not guaranteed. For the last seven years, though, all extra persons have been allowed into the Courtroom.
Children under 6 are not admitted into the Courtroom to see the ceremony or for oral arguments.
OTHER NOTES:
You should contact your Congressional representative and your Senator. Advise them that you will be visiting DC in October and ask that you be sent visitors information. The information packets are usually quite good. Your elected official is also the one with whom you make your reservations for VIP tours of the most popular attractions (Bureau of Engraving and Printing where you can see millions of dollars being printed, the White House, the Capitol, and the Library of Congress).
I would also recommend the National Park Service's tourmobile vendor, which provides narrated tours to all the popular sites. You can get on and off at any stop along the way. The tour busses run very frequently and you can pay the driver when you board for an all-day ticket (currently $20 for adults, $10 for children).
DC subway map (Metro)
http://www.wmata.com/metrorail/colormap.pdf
US Park Service Printable Site and Street Map w/ subway stops (print in landscape)
http://www.nps.gov/nama/planyourvisit/upload/NACCmap1.pdf
US Park Service Visitors Information: (202) 426-6841
National Park Service Official Tourmobile: http://www.tourmobile.com/
