Today the court starts it's new 2007 term, the 1st monday in October.
The court was not furnished with thier own building until 1935. For most of the years of it's existence since 1789, except in Philadelphia and NY, it convened in the US Capitol building, moving rooms several times throughout.
From 1819 until 1860 in the Old Supreme court chamber, where the Dred Scott decision was handed down. If one tours the Capitol, the Old SC chamber is included in the tour to gaze upon.
http://www.aoc.gov/cc/capitol/oscc.cfm
From 1860 -1935 they met in the Old Senate chamber.
http://www.aoc.gov/cc/capitol/old_sen_ch.cfm
From memory, the SC has reversed themselves about, oh, 175 + times, most notably Brown v. Board of Education overturning Plessy v. Ferguson.
The SC is a beautiful building to tour. On the west pediment of the building, which faces 1st street, it has the legal maxim "Equal justice under law". Been there, seen that.
There are busts of various justices for view during the tour. Also when the chamber is not in use, lectures are given about the history of the court, so one can actually sit in the chamber itself as if they were in attending an oral argument.
As is being discussed in Blue Eagle's President thread, FDR tried to increase the # of Justices in the 1930's, but Congress refused.
If I am not mistaken, when the court first was sworn in, there were only 6 justices making 3-3 decisions having to be ironed or argued out.
Some decisions, according to a 15 page or so book I bought at the SC gift shop, are revised a dozen or more times before they are given to the Reporter of decisons for distribution.
Little known fact, Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr., the writer, was the father of Associate SC justice OWH Jr.
John Marshall, CJ for 35 years, IMO, was one of the greatest jurists/legal minds the world ever produced. His home in Richmond, I have never toured, but I would be thrilled to do so at some time in my life.
He of course authored the landmark 1803 decision, Marbury v. Madison, where the SC ruled they have a right to declare federal laws unconsitutional.
http://www.apva.org/marshall/justice/more_history.php
The longest serving member of the court was William O. Douglas, more than 36 years. The late CJ William Rehnquist served for almost 34 years, being appointed at first as an Associate by President Richard Nixon.
SC trivia. What was the only time in history the SC itself held a criminal trial of defendant's. In other words, they were not acting as an appeals court or an original jurisdiction court under the constitution.
I love the Supreme Court and it's rich history.
BOR (Bill of Rights)

