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site: Saidye Bronfman Centre for the Arts
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Description
Description
The highest tribunal in the nation, the
Supreme Court is charged with the power of "judicial review":
deciding whether actions of Congress, the president, the states,
and lower courts, in other words, of all branches of government and
government officials, are in accordance with the Constitution, and
with applying the Constitution's enduring principles to novel
situations and a changing country. Arguably the most powerful
people in the nation, the Court's chief justice and eight associate
justices hear only about 75 to 100 of the most vital cases of the
8,000- to-9,000 petitions for writ certiorari submitted to the
Court each year. The Court's rulings are final, reversible only by
an Act of Congress.Hard to believe, but the Supreme Court -- in
existence since 1789 -- did not have its own building until 1935.
The justices met in New York, Philadelphia, and in assorted nooks
of the Capitol until they finally got their own place. Architect
Cass Gilbert designed the stately Corinthian marble palace that
houses the Court today. Best known for his skyscrapers, like New
York's 761-foot-high Woolworth Building, completed in 1913, Gilbert
was an interesting choice for the Supreme Court commission in a
city where Congress restricts building height to 160
feet.You'll have plenty of time to admire the
exterior of this magnificent structure if you're in town when the
Court is in session and decide to try and see a case being
argued, because -- yup, you guessed it -- you have to wait in
line (sometimes for hours) on the front plaza of the building. But
please try! The experience is extremely worth the wait. People
queue in every city for tickets to concerts and sports events. But
only in Washington does a wait in line grant one the privilege of
watching and listening to the country's nine foremost legal experts
nimbly and intensely dissect the merits of both sides of an
argument, whose decisions can affect profoundly both the person and
the nation. The standing-in-line, itself, brings with it the same
sort of thrill that builds in collective anticipation of a great
performance.Here's what you need to know: Starting the
first Monday in October, continuing through late April, the Court
"sits" for two weeks out of every month to hear arguments, Monday
through Wednesday, two to four arguments each day, from 10am to
noon, and from 1 to 2pm or 3pm. You can find out the specific dates
and names of arguments in advance by calling the Supreme Court
(tel. 202/479-3211) or, better yet, by going to the website,
www.supremecourtus.gov, where the argument calendar and the
"Merits Briefs" (case descriptions) are posted.Plan on arriving at the Supreme Court at
least 90 minutes in advance of a scheduled argument during the fall
and winter, and as early as three hours ahead in March and April,
when schools are often on spring break and students lengthen the
line. (Dress warmly; the stone plaza is totally exposed and can be
witheringly cold.) Controversial cases also attract crowds; if
you're not sure whether a particular case has created a stir, call
the Court information line to reach someone who can tell you. The
Court allots only about 150 first-come, first served seats to the
general public, but that number fluctuates from case to case,
depending on the number of seats that have been reserved by the
lawyers arguing the case and by the press. The Court police
officers direct you into one line initially; when the doors finally
open, you form a second line if you want to attend only 3 to 5
minutes of the argument.The justices release opinions on an ongoing
basis throughout the term, on every third Monday and, if any are
ready, on argument days -- the opinions are delivered before the
arguments begin. Then, mid-May to late June, you can attend brief
sessions (about 15 min.) at 10am on Monday, when the justices
release remaining orders and opinions for the term. Again, you must
stand in line on the front plaza to enter the building.Leave your cameras, recording devices, and
notebooks at your hotel; they're not allowed in the Courtroom.
Note:
But do bring quarters. Security
procedures require you to leave all your belongings, including
outerwear, purses, books, sunglasses, and so on, in a lower level
checkroom where there are coin-operated lockers that accept only
quarters.Once inside, pay close attention to the many
rituals. At 10am, the marshal announces the entrance of the
justices, and all present rise and remain standing while the
justices take their seats (in high-backed, cushioned swivel chairs,
by the way) following the chant: "The Honorable, the Chief Justice
and Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States.
Oyez! Oyez! Oyez! All persons having business before the Honorable,
the Supreme Court of the United States, are admonished to draw near
and give their attention, for the Court is now sitting. God save
the United States and this Honorable Court!" Unseen by the gallery
is the "conference handshake"; following a 19th-century tradition
symbolizing a "harmony of aims if not views," each justice shakes
hands with each of the other eight when they assemble to go to the
bench. The Court has a record before it of prior proceedings and
relevant briefs, so each side is allowed only a 30-minute
argument.When the Court is not in session, you can
tour the building and attend a free lecture in the courtroom
about Court procedure and the building's architecture. Lectures are
given every hour on the half-hour from 9:30am to 3:30pm. After the
talk, explore the Great Hall and go down a flight of steps to see
the 24-minute film on the workings of the Court. On the same
floor is an exhibit highlighting the "History of High Courts Around
the World," on display indefinitely. Allow about an hour to tour. A
gift shop and a public cafeteria are open to the public.
Note: This information
was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice.
Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the
companies in question before planning your trip.
Price
Tickets from C$15 (US$12)Credit Cards Accepted
none acceptedDirections
Métro: Côte-Ste-Catherine. Bus: 29 ouestArea
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