Existing comment:
Former Homes of the Court
"A stranger might traverse the dark avenues of the Capitol for a week, without finding the remote corner in which Justice is administered to the American Republic..."
-- New-York statesman, February 1824
As required by law, the Supreme Court meets at the seat of the federal government, wherever that may be. Therefore, as the capital city moved, the Justices met in New York City, then Philadelphia. In 1801, they convened for the first time in Washington, where they met in a committee room in the north wing of the United States Capital. By 1810, a proper courtroom had been constructed on the Capitol's ground floor, but the Court shared it with lower courts. This space was often criticized for its cool, damp conditions and ground floor location, but it met the Court's needs during its relatively short terms. In 1860, one year after the Senate relocated, its old chamber was converted into a courtroom for the Supreme Court. Despite the larger space, it became increasingly apparent that these quarters were inadequate for the long-term needs of the Court. |