How to Visit the Supreme Court

The Supreme Court of the United States in Washington, D.C., is the most famous courtroom in the country. Many important decisions are made inside the courts chambers, and you can find exhibits and lectures held inside the Supreme Court building throughout the year.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Visit the Supreme Court during the week. The court allows visitors Monday through Friday during the daytime hours. It is closed to the public on weekends and holidays.

2. Call ahead to make sure that the Supreme Court is opened to visitors. Due to certain courtroom proceedings, visitors may not be permitted inside. Call the public information line to check their schedule.

3. Watch the Visitor's Film upon entrance to the building on the ground floor. The film lasts less than half an hour and gives an overview of the court.

4. See the exhibits displayed at the court. These exhibits showcase the history of the Supreme Court and the Justice Department of the United States.

5. Attend oral arguments. These last about an hour with two lawyers arguing both sides of a case before the Supreme Court justices. If you know the issues, it can make for riveting drama.

Tips & Warnings

• There is a cafeteria and a snack bar in the Supreme Court building. It does close briefly during lunchtime to serve court employees.
• Throughout the day, the doors to the courtroom in the building remain open so that visitors can look inside.

Resources

• Find visitor information on the Supreme Court website.