US Supreme Court Building Architecture

The United States Supreme Court building, located at One First Street, Washington DC, began construction in October 1932 and was delivered in 1935. The work was promoted by the then president of the Court, William Howard Taft, who He made the necessary arrangements for the Court to have its own facilities. Prior to the building’s construction, the magistrates had shared offices with the Capitol since 1801.

Taft hired New York architect Cass Gilbert for the construction, who designed the building in the neoclassical style . Neoclassical architecture is inspired by ancient Greek and Roman designs for large public buildings, and is characterized by the use of tall columns , triangular pediments, symmetrical shapes, and vaulted ceilings, among others. Gilbert chose the neoclassical style, among other reasons, because it harmonized better with the surrounding buildings that make up the Capitol.

Building dimensions and materials

Gilbert decided that the building would have imposing dimensions, in keeping with the importance and dignity of the Judiciary as a symbol of the “national ideal of justice in the highest sphere of activity.” Thus, the Supreme Court occupies 117 meters from east to west, 93 meters from north to south and up to 28 meters at its highest point.

This grandeur is seen not only in the size of the building but also in its materials: steel clad with Vermont marble for the exterior and white Georgia marble for the four interior courtyards. The walls and floors of the hallways and foyers are distinguished by creamy Alabama marble, while the wood that makes up doors, trim, paneled walls and some floors is American white oak.

architectural and symbolic elements

One of the distinctive features of neoclassical buildings are the symbolic decorative themes such as rosettes, meanders, palms, laurels, vegetable garlands, among others; also the allegories of events and outstanding characters. Such aspects are identified in representative elements of the Court, both in its external and internal parts.

Representative external parts of the building

Streetlights. On either side of the entrance to the Supreme Court there are a couple of lampposts designed by John Donnelly’s studio. The lampposts, made of marble, have square bases. One side of the base is carved with a figure representing Justice holding a sword and scales, while the other side is carved with the three Fates, deities who weave the thread of life.

columns. The portico of the Supreme Court is formed by Corinthian columns that give the building a monumental entrance. These columns are distinguished by a decorative bell-shaped capital (upper end) with volutes (spiral-shaped ornament), two rows of acanthus leaves (symbolizing immortality or eternity) and a cornice (top and protruding part of the facade) elaborated.

Flag poles. The pole of each flag was designed by Gilbert and completed by John Donnelly’s studio. Each consists of a tall, fluted post culminating in an eagle and embedded in an octagonal bronze base, whose elaborate decoration is spread over nine levels:

• The lowest level is decorated with garlands of leaves.
• The second level exhibits shields with floral motifs on each side of the octagon.
• The third level also has plant motifs, represented through flower buds and rushes.
• The fourth level is made up of intertwined shells and fish.
• The fifth level is made up of four cherubs: one holds a scale (symbol of justice) and a sword (symbol of authority); another holds a book (symbol of learning); another holds a mask (symbol of lies) and a torch (symbol of enlightenment or revelation) and the last holds a feather and mallet (symbols of legislation). The cherubs are entwined by garlands and each has a medallion on top; the medallions represent the four elements: air is represented by an eagle, water by a fish, earth by the head of a lion, and fire by a tripod of flames.
• The sixth level contains acanthus leaves with pine cones and pine needles on top.
• The seventh level features a row of snails.
• The eighth level represents the egg molding and a dart emerging vertically from the foliage.
• The ninth level has a floral representation resembling a palm leaf.

Contemplation of justice. This sculpture, the work of sculptor James Fraser, is a marble female figure that stands on the left side of the steps at the main entrance. Fraser described her as “a realistic conception of what I consider to be a heroic type of person with a head and body expressive of the beauty and intelligence of justice.” The sculpture represents the mythological goddess Themis, associated with clairvoyance, authority and justice. In this case, she holds a law book in her left arm, while in her right she has a figure representing Justice blindfolded and a set of scales; the blindfold is a symbol of impartiality and the scales represent equity.

Guardian or Authority of Law. The Guardian, the work of sculptor James Fraser, is a male marble figure that stands on the right hand side of the steps at the main entrance. Fraser described her as a “mighty, upright watcher”. The sculpture is observed in a concentrated attitude, holding in its left hand the tablet of laws that has the word Lex (law in Latin) carved on it, backed by the sheathed sword, a symbol of application of authority through the law.

Sculptural group of the west front. The west entrance is preceded by sixteen marble columns. In the architrave (the base that rests on the columns) is carved, in English, the phrase Equal justice under the law . On the architrave there is a sculptural group by Robert Aitken and made up of nine figures that from left to right are:

• William Howard Taft, the Chief Justice who sponsored the construction of the building.
• Elihu Root, the senator who managed the creation of the Washington Commission on Fine Arts.
• Cass Gilbert, the architect of the Supreme Court building.
• Allegorical figure representing Order.
• Allegorical figure representing enthroned Liberty.
• Allegorical figure representing Authority.
• Charles Evans Hughes, who chaired the commission to build the Supreme Court building.
• Robert Aitken, the creator of the sculpture group.
• John Marshall, another of the presidents of the Supreme Court.

Sculptural group from the east front. The east entrance, located at the rear of the building, is also preceded by columns. On the architrave is carved the phrase Justice guardian of liberty . On the architrave there is a sculptural group designed by Hermon A. MacNeil and made up of different figures that from left to right are:

• The hare from Aesop’s fable.
• Allegorical figure of the study and weighting of judgments.
• Allegorical figure of the solution of disputes between states through the enlightened trial.
• Allegorical figures carrying the means to enforce the law.
• Confucius.
• Moses.
• Solon.
• Allegorical figures that carry justice and mercy.
• Allegorical figure of the important functions of the Supreme Court in the protection of the United States.
• Allegorical figure of “Youth”, which has the function of leading civilization through the knowledge of good and evil.
• The turtle from Aesop’s fable.

Bronze doors. Door panels, sculpted by John Donnelly, Jr., depict historical scenes in the development of law.

• Shield of Achilles (scene in the lower left corner). It depicts a scene described in Homer’s Iliad , in which two men bring a dispute before elders who will pass sentence.
• Magistrate’s Edict (scene above Achilles’ Shield). It represents the moment in which a Roman magistrate publishes his edict proclaiming the validity of judicial decisions; the magistrate is accompanied by a soldier who symbolizes the power of the government to enforce the law.
• Julian and the disciple (scene above the magistrate’s edict). It represents one of the most outstanding law professors of Ancient Rome instructing a student.
• Justinian’s Code (scene above Julian and the disciple, upper left corner). It represents the publication of the first codification of Roman law.
• Magna Carta (scene in the lower right corner). It depicts when the barons forced King John of England to put his seal on the Magna Carta in 1215.
• Westminster Charter (scene above the Magna Carta scene). It depicts King Edward I watching his chancellor issue the Charter of Westminster in 1275.
• Chief Justice of England Edward Coke and King James I (scene above the Westminster Charter). He represents Coke forbidding King James I from court, making it an independent power of government.
• Chief Justice John Marshall (upper right corner scene). Depicts John Marshall and Judge Joseph Story discussing the opinion of a case in front of the United States Capitol.

Representative internal parts of the building

South and north audience room frieze . On the courtroom wall is a sculptural group by artist Adolph A. Weinman. The figures correspond to the great legislators of history for the north wall and events in the development of the law for the south wall. On the south wall, whose image can be seen here , there are some characters such as (organized from left to right):

• Menes , first king of the first dynasty of ancient Egypt.
• Hammurabi , King of Babylon and author of one of the earliest known legal codes.
• Moses , prophet, lawgiver, and judge of the Israelites.
• Solomon , king and judge of Israel.
• Lycurgus , lawgiver of Sparta.
• Solon , Athenian lawgiver.
• Draco , Solon’s predecessor in Athens. Author of the draconian code.
• Confucius , Chinese philosopher whose government adopted his teachings as the basis for government until 1912.
• Octavian , first Emperor of the Roman Empire.

On the north wall, whose image can be seen here , there are some characters such as (organized from right to left):

• Justinian , Byzantine emperor who ordered the codification of Roman law.
• Muhammad , prophet of Islam, who upholds the source of Islamic law: the Qur’an.
• Charlemagne, King of the Franks and Holy Roman Emperor and reformer of legal, judicial and military systems.
• King John , who put his seal on the Magna Carta, the basis of constitutional liberty in England.
• Louis IX , King of France who created the first court of appeals.
• Hugo Grotius , Dutch polymath, lawyer and statesman, author of one of the first books on international law.
• Sir William Blackstone , English law professor and jurist.
• John Marshall , fourth Chief Justice of the United States.
• Napoleon , Emperor of France who directed the Napoleonic Code or Civil Code.

West and east audience hall frieze . On the east wall, whose image can be seen here , there are some characters such as (organized from left to right):

• Group of figures representing the defense of rights and protection of innocence.
• Allegorical figure of Wisdom.
• Allegorical figure of the Majesty of the law.
• Allegorical figure of the Power of government.
• Figure carrying a shield with the scales of justice.
• Group of figures that represent the safeguarding of the freedoms and rights of people in search of happiness.

On the west wall, an allegorical representation of good against evil and whose image can be seen here , there are some characters such as (organized from left to right):

• Allegorical figures of the powers of good: Defense of Virtue, Charity, Peace, Harmony and Security.
• Allegorical figure of wisdom, with an owl perched on her shoulder.
• Allegorical figure of Justice, which is represented looking towards the forces of evil and leaning on a sheathed sword that represents its power.
• Allegorical figure of Divine Inspiration, which is represented looking towards the forces of good and holding the Scales of Justice.
• Allegorical figure of Truth, holding a mirror and a rose
• Allegorical figures of the powers of evil: Vice and Crime, Corruption, Slander, Deceit and Despotic Power.

Sources

Supreme Court of The United States of America. The Supreme Court Building , nd

Architect of the Capitol. Supreme Court Building . sf