Existing comment:
A Symbolic Temple of Justice:
"For this temple of noble proportions, an achievement of the most distinguished architectural skill... finds its chief distinction as a national symbol. It symbolizes the national ideal of justice in the highest sphere of activity..."
-- Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes at the cornerstone ceremony, October 1932
When the Supreme Court Building opened in October 1935, many saw it as a symbol of hope for a National struggling through the Great Depression. Others saw it as an unnecessary and extravagant "marble palace" for "nine old men." Whether acclaimed or criticized, the building's design combines the power and authority of classical architecture with the symbolic ideals of law and justice. Together, they create a dignified atmosphere for the work of the Nation's highest court -- a temple for American Justice. |