Today was our third day in Washington DC. This morning, we got very nicely dressed and headed to the library for about an hour of research, before taking an interim to walk down the street to the Supreme Court Building. It was freezing outside and when we got to the Court, there were about 200 lovely people also waiting to get into the Court. As my friends and I filed into the back of the line, we began to try to decide who was going to die of frostbite first, and if we died on the steps of the Supreme Court what political cause we should dedicate such dramatic deaths to. However, Dr. Kobylka apparently knew something or someone that we didn’t, and he brought us round to another entrance where we were saved from being martyrs of the DC weather.
Once inside, we spent some time wandering and looking at the magnificent portraits of all the past Supreme Court Justices. I have attached a picture of me with my favorite Supreme Court Justice, William J. Brennan.
Next, we were introduced to our tour guides and led on a private tour of the court. My favorite part of the tour was being in the actual Supreme Court, which was smaller than I had envisioned. My last name being Roberts, I was very excited to get to sit in Chief Justice Roberts’ wife’s seat, labeled, ”Mrs. Roberts” and we even got to stand at the podium where the attorneys give their oral arguments from. I closed my eyes and envisioned myself on the beach during Spring Break next year and not in a library. (Just kidding this trip was AWESOME, totally recommend and so grateful for the opportunity!)
After our tour, we met with Scott Harris, the 20th (and current) clerk of the Supreme Court. I was surprised at how down to earth he seemed, as well as the emphasis he put on his role of relating to the attorneys who come in to argue in the Court. Harris seemed dedicated to helping attorneys feel comfortable and welcomed, as he realizes the pressure that arguing a case in the Supreme Court presents.
To wrap up the day we ate at Bullfeathers, a restaurant themed after Teddy Roosevelt. I spent the evening trying to intake this painting that was hung by our table, and I don’t think I ever succeeded. It may be unpatriotic to say that it’s terrifying, but it does look like the setting of one of my worst nightmares. I’m just a terrible poker player.
Andy Thomas’ painting, “Grand Ol’ Gang” – on display at Bullfeathers, a Teddy Roosvelt-themed restaurant.