Solosez Supreme Court Group Admission

By Arnettia Wright, Danielle Waterfield, and Shawn Henessee

photo by kevinkennedy.com

Cloaked in the spirit of tradition, the festivities surrounding the United States Supreme Court swearing-in ceremonies of January 17 th and 18 th, 2006 were no different. On the eve of the ceremony, participants were invited to partake of a scrumptious dinner at the infamous Monocle Restaurant. Just steps away from the Capitol, The Monocle offered a quaint atmosphere surrounded by photos of politicians and quotes from the last 50 years. It provided a perfect backdrop for Solosez members to network and connect names with faces.

On the morning of each ceremony, candidates along with family and friends were escorted into the Natalie Cornell Rehnquist Dining Room, where we enjoyed a sumptuous breakfast while being briefed on the day’s oral arguments. Dressed in formal morning clothes consisting of grey tails, the Clerk of the Court welcomed us and prepared us for what was to come.

After rendering the decisions for the day, Chief Justice Roberts called for candidates for admission to the Bar. One by one, each of the candidates rose as his or her name was called. And with one swift gavel, it was official! We became members of the Bar of the Supreme Court of the United States of America. With priority seating for the day’s oral arguments, we were able to see first hand what it would be like to argue a case before the highest Court of the land.

On Tuesday, the Court heard Wisconsin Right to Life v. FEC to determine the constitutionality of banning grassroots lobbying communications during a period prior to an election. From the line of questioning, the Court appeared to consider the issue of law in question similar to that presented in McConnell v. FEC, 540 U.S. 93 (2003). The second argument of the day was Jones v. Flowers, a due process case with the question of whether the government is required to make any additional effort to locate the owner before taking property after the first mailed notice of a tax sale or property forfeiture is returned undelivered.

photo by kevinkennedy.com

On Wednesday, the Court heard United States v. Grubbs where for the first time the Court sought to answer the question of whether anticipatory warrants, or at least the manner in which the one in this case was executed, violates the 4 th Amendment. In Merrill Lynch v. Dabit, the Court will decide whether the Securities Litigation Uniform Standards Act preempts state law class action claims based on allegedly fraudulent statements or omissions brought solely on behalf of persons who were induced thereby to hold or retain securities. While the cases both days were very different, the Court’s questioning made them equally engaging nonetheless.

As if the thrill of being sworn in by the newly seated Chief Justice Roberts and retiring Associate Justice O’Connor were not enough, the excitement was just half over. Following the morning’s arguments, group participants had the opportunity to tour both the U.S. Capitol and Supreme Court.

While the Supreme Court is undergoing an extensive modernization upgrade that currently restricts access to some areas of the Court, these tours provided the opportunity to admire some of the ornate and publicly restricted conference rooms and to re-visit the main courtroom. Guided by a Court curator, we received a detailed description of the friezes and other artwork and equipment located in the courtroom. Additionally, a brief overview of the number and structure of the employees at the Supreme Court was provided.

From there, the group proceeded to the Capitol for a VIP tour including an escort onto the Senate Chamber floor, into the party cloakrooms and for a few lucky souls, an exclusive Capitol Dome tour. We saw some of the original work of Constantino Brumidi, who spent almost 25 years painting some incredible and detailed corridors in the Capitol building. Additionally, we were able to visit the old Supreme Court chambers, which was located inside the Capitol in rooms that were initially designated as “temporary.” However, these “temporary” quarters would contain the Court from 1810 to 1860 when it moved to the Old Senate Chambers, where it was located from 1860 to 1935 when the current edifice opened.

Tour participants had the opportunity to observe some additional striking artwork inside the Rotunda entitled The Apotheosis of Washington. This stunning fresco is almost 5,000 square feet in size and depicts the history of both the United States and George Washington. The crypt is one of the oldest areas of the Capitol and was originally intended to be George Washington’s resting area. However, President Washington’s family demurred from this plan.

In summary, the Supreme Court swearing-in ceremony represented a unique opportunity to partake of some of the finest legal, architectural, artistic and historical experiences that America has to offer. Becoming a member of the Supreme Court provides an invaluable opportunity to experience first hand these artistic treasures and our nation’s rich legal heritage. Moreover, it prepares us for answering the call the Court will inevitably issue for a few, if not many, of us to return to the great chamber, only next time as arguing counsel.

Special thanks to Terry Berger for organizing the events and to Ronni Jillions, James Kanski, and Deborah Matthews for serving as moving attorneys.