In a symbolic development announced yesterday, the Supreme Court, in a 7-2 private vote, has decided that as of today, the front entrance of the Court Building, always available to citizens and tourist for the 75 years since the building opened in 1935, will no longer be accessible. Instead, everyone will be required to enter through a ground floor side entrance for security reasons!
However, two members of the Court, both Bill Clinton appointees–Stephen Breyer and Ruth Bader Ginsberg–protested the move, and Breyer issued a statement, expressing sadness that the image of the Court as open and accessible, is being harmed by the decision of the majority!
It means that no longer can tourists and visitors walk up the grand steps leading up to the marble columns and pass under the inscribed words “Equal Justice Under The Law”, and see the historic scenes of the law on the two bronze doors.
However, all visitors will leave via the front door, so could, while leaving, look back at what they cannot walk up, but cannot linger as they leave!
Breyer pointed out in his statement that no other Supreme Court building worldwide has closed off its main entrance, not even in Israel, and that he did not think that security concerns were an adequate reason for what is being done, and he expressed hope that at some point the decision can be reversed!
The concept of the Court being open and accessible, rather than being aloof and distant, is an important one!
Leave it to the two liberal members of the Supreme Court appointed by Bill Clinton to promote the idea of openness and access, while the conservative majority becomes ever more closed off from the people they serve! 🙁