87. The Clock is Ticking

Inauguration is hours away. I was at the Supreme Court Friday when the decision came down to keep the ban on Tik Tok at midnight tonight, Sunday 19th. The courtroom itself was closed as the Justices are in conference on Friday. But that meant I could go into the chamber with a docent and ask questions along with others. After the Inauguration I will return on Tuesday to see if I can witness Oral Arguments when the Court resumes session. 

While I was there for the Q&A I went to the private publishing office in the Supreme Court and got a fresh copy of the Tik Tok decision released at 10 am. I don’t use Tik Tok, nor care to. But it is used as spyware by the CCP. On the other hand it’s a dangerous precedent to ban a media. Free Speech vs, National Security is at the center of the debate. We'll see at midnight if Tik Tok becomes a pumpkin or a Cinderella. I’ve been to the Supreme Court before so I knew to go through the side visitors entrance earlier and enter through the Great Hall lined with busts of previous Justices.

At the far end is an entrance to the Court itself. This photo shows me at that doorway. Beyond this, there are no photos or videos allowed, only court drawings that you might see in newsprint. The heavily brocaded red velvet curtains smack a little bit of royalty, and inside the twenty-four marble columns are imposing. But then it simplifies. Wooden benches for the public. And before the nine Justices stands the original wooden lectern from its dedication in 1935. The amount of stress and pressure, sweat and effort, absorbed by that lectern could fill volumes. Circular foot warmers under our bench seats remind me that I’m not in Baja, Mexico.

The docent asks for questions. We begin.

I raised my hand first. My question was about the controversy regarding displaying the Ten Commandments in US courthouses. Well, guess what, Moses and the tablets are portrayed in a frieze relief within the Supreme Court. So the docent clarified. The frieze displays iconic lawgivers throughout human history including Hammurabi, Moses, Solomon, Confucius, Mohammad, King John and Napoleon to name a few. But because of our separation of Church and State, Moses is only holding one tablet, the one regarding social rules of conduct between humans. The first tablet indicating how we should relate to God is absent. And in this Court, rightfully so.

Someone asked about the columns. Strangely enough when this building and courtroom were dedicated in 1935 the marble came from Italy, thanks to Mussolini and his economic revival of the 1930’s. There’s a written letter to that effect, but not published nor talked about because . . . uh, it's not a good look.

Black robes. In the beginning the robes were lined with color, red and yellow, quite decorative. Quite princely. Quite royal. Then around John Marshal’s tenure the robes were reduced to all black, symbolic of an impartial weighing of the facts without emotional appeal. Outside the Courtroom is different. There’s a beautiful portrait in one of the side halls of Sandra Day O’Connor with a beautifully colored scarf for accent, giving a feminine touch to the rule of law. It captures her personality. And speaking of personality, the iconic Chief Justice John Marshal has his own representation, including the pony tail on the back of his head.

Someone asked about cameras in the Court which prompted this anecdotal account. That’s always been the rule, but once a very famous photographer visited the Court. He knew not to bring his camera. He only had a cane. The police noticed he was holding the cane up and waving it around, panning the courtroom. They were curious so asked to check the cane. Sure enough he had embedded a miniature camera with mini film (hard to imagine) in the end. Security properly removed the camera and film and kept it. The Court has never developed nor published the contents because it did not want to inspire copycats. 

One of the guests showed me his Inaugural Invitation packet with tickets and formal announcement. He was from Minnesota and the invite was signed by his Senator Amy Klobuchar. I had asked my Congressman in Chula Vista for tickets, but I didn’t win the lottery. Since the Inauguration's outdoor events are cancelled, these don’t open any doors, but they are great souvenirs for an event that (never) happened.

But it’s already Friday afternoon and I still want to check out the Impressionists Exhibit at the National Museum of Art. I swing by the gift shop for a peek. Yes, they have "golden scales of justice" earrings as well as books. I notice their cafe on the way out. Hmm, breakfast next Tuesday before Oral Arguments. Sounds good to me.

Walking down the steps I noticed two young women making mini snowballs. I asked if I could take a photo for my friends back in the desert of Baja, Mexico! "Porque No!"