Chapter 61 · United states supreme court building and grounds
Subchapter II · Buildings and grounds
6111Supreme Court Building#
(a)
(1)The Architect of the Capitol shall have charge of the structural and mechanical care of the Supreme Court Building, including—
(A)the care and maintenance of the grounds; and
(B)the supplying of all mechanical furnishings and mechanical equipment for the Building.
(2)The Architect shall direct the operation and maintenance of the mechanical equipment and repair of the building.
(3)The Architect may enter into all necessary contracts to carry out this subsection.
(b)Amounts appropriated under—
(1)subsection (a) and sections 6112 and 6113 of this title are available for—
(A)expenses of heating and air-conditioning refrigeration supplied by the Capitol Power Plant, advancements for which shall be made and deposited in the Treasury to the credit of appropriations provided for the Capitol Power Plant; and
(B)the purchase of electrical energy; and
(2)the heading “Supreme Court of the United States” and “care of the building and grounds” are available for—
(A)improvements, maintenance, repairs, equipment, supplies, materials, and appurtenances;
(B)special clothing for workers;
(C)personal and other services (including temporary labor without regard to chapter 51, subchapter III of chapter 53, and subchapter III of chapter 83, of title 5); and
(D)without compliance with section 6101(b) to (d) of title 41—
(i)for snow removal (by hire of personnel and equipment or under contract); and
(ii)for the replacement of electrical transformers containing polychlorinated biphenyls.
6112Supreme Court Building and grounds employees#
Employees required to carry out section 6111(a) of this title shall be—
(1)appointed by the Architect of the Capitol with the approval of the Chief Justice of the United States;
(2)compensated in accordance with chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5; and
(3)subject to subchapter III of chapter 83 of title 5.
6113Duties of the Superintendent of the Supreme Court Building#
Except as provided in section 6111(a) of this title, all duties and work required for the operation, domestic care, and custody of the Supreme Court Building shall be performed under the direction of the Marshal of the Supreme Court. The Marshal serves as the superintendent of the Building.
III · Policing authority
6121General#
(a)In accordance with regulations prescribed by the Marshal of the Supreme Court and approved by the Chief Justice of the United States, the Marshal and the Supreme Court Police shall have authority—
(1)to police the Supreme Court Building and grounds and adjacent streets to protect individuals and property;
(2)in any location, to protect—
(A)the Chief Justice, any Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, and any official guest of the Supreme Court;
(B)any officer or employee of the Supreme Court while that officer or employee is performing official duties; and
(C)if the Marshal determines such protection is necessary—
(i)any retired or former Chief Justice or Associate Justice of the Supreme Court; or
(ii)any member of the immediate family of the Chief Justice, any Associate Justice, any retired or former Chief Justice or Associate Justice, or any officer of the Supreme Court.1
(4)to carry firearms as may be required while performing duties under section 6102 of this title, this subchapter, and subchapter IV.
(b)2 Duties under subsection (a)(2)(A) with respect to an official guest of the Supreme Court in any location (other than the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia) shall be authorized in writing by the Chief Justice or an Associate Justice, if those duties require the carrying of firearms under subsection (a)(4).
6122Designation of members of the Supreme Court Police#
Under the general supervision and direction of the Chief Justice of the United States, the Marshal of the Supreme Court may designate employees of the Supreme Court as members of the Supreme Court Police, without additional compensation.
6123Authority of Metropolitan Police of the District of Columbia#
The Metropolitan Police of the District of Columbia may make arrests within the Supreme Court Building and grounds for a violation of federal or state law or any regulation under federal or state law. This section does not authorize the Metropolitan Police to enter the Supreme Court Building to make an arrest in response to a complaint, serve a warrant, or patrol the Supreme Court Building or grounds, unless the Metropolitan Police have been requested to do so by, or have received the consent of, the Marshal of the Supreme Court or an assistant to the Marshal.
Subchapter IV · Prohibitions and penalties
6131Public travel in Supreme Court grounds#
Public travel in, and occupancy of, the Supreme Court grounds is restricted to the sidewalks and other paved surfaces.
6132Sale of articles, signs, and solicitation in Supreme Court Building and grounds#
It is unlawful—
(1)to offer or expose any article for sale in the Supreme Court Building or grounds;
(2)to display a sign, placard, or other form of advertisement in the Building or grounds; or
(3)to solicit fares, alms, subscriptions, or contributions in the Building or grounds.
6133Property in the Supreme Court Building and grounds#
It is unlawful to step or climb on, remove, or in any way injure any statue, seat, wall, fountain, or other erection or architectural feature, or any tree, shrub, plant, or turf, in the Supreme Court Building or grounds.
6134Firearms, fireworks, speeches, and objectionable language in the Supreme Court Building and grounds#
It is unlawful to discharge a firearm, firework or explosive, set fire to a combustible, make a harangue or oration, or utter loud, threatening, or abusive language in the Supreme Court Building or grounds.
6135Parades, assemblages, and display of flags in the Supreme Court Building and grounds#
It is unlawful to parade, stand, or move in processions or assemblages in the Supreme Court Building or grounds, or to display in the Building and grounds a flag, banner, or device designed or adapted to bring into public notice a party, organization, or movement.
6136Suspension of prohibitions against use of Supreme Court grounds#
To allow the observance of authorized ceremonies in the Supreme Court Building and grounds, the Marshal of the Supreme Court may suspend for those occasions any of the prohibitions contained in this subchapter as may be necessary for the occasion if—
(1)responsible officers have been appointed; and
(2)the Marshal determines that adequate arrangements have been made—
(A)to maintain suitable order and decorum in the proceedings; and
(B)to protect the Supreme Court Building and grounds and individuals and property in the Building and grounds.
6137Penalties#
(a)An individual who violates this subchapter, or a regulation prescribed under section 6102 of this title, shall be fined under title 18, imprisoned not more than 60 days, or both.
(b)Prosecution for a violation described in subsection (a) shall be in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia or in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, on information by the United States Attorney or an Assistant United States Attorney.
(c)If during the commission of a violation described in subsection (a), public property is damaged in an amount exceeding $100, the period of imprisonment for the offense may be not more than five years.
Subchapter I · General
6101Definitions and application#
(a)In this chapter, the following definitions apply:
(1)The term “official guest of the Supreme Court” means an individual who is a guest of the Supreme Court, as determined by the Chief Justice of the United States or any Associate Justice of the Supreme Court;
(b)For purposes of section 6102 of this title and subchapters III and IV, the Supreme Court grounds—
(1)extend to the line of the face of—
(A)the east curb of First Street Northeast, between Maryland Avenue Northeast and East Capitol Street;
(B)the south curb of Maryland Avenue Northeast, between First Street Northeast and Second Street Northeast;
(C)the west curb of Second Street Northeast, between Maryland Avenue Northeast and East Capitol Street; and
(D)the north curb of East Capitol Street between First Street Northeast and Second Street Northeast; and
(2)comprise any property under the custody and control of the Supreme Court as part of the Supreme Court grounds, including property acquired as provided by law on behalf of the Federal Government in lots 2, 3, 800, 801, and 802 in square 758 in the District of Columbia as an addition to the grounds of the Supreme Court Building and that parcel transferred under the Supreme Court Grounds Transfer Act of 2005.
6102Regulations#
(a)In addition to the restrictions and requirements specified in subchapter IV, the Marshal of the Supreme Court may prescribe regulations, approved by the Chief Justice of the United States, that are necessary for—
(1)the adequate protection of the Supreme Court Building and grounds and of individuals and property in the Building and grounds; and
(2)the maintenance of suitable order and decorum within the Building and grounds.
(b)All regulations prescribed under this section shall be posted in a public place at the Building and shall be made reasonably available to the public in writing.
United States Government work; public domain under 17 U.S.C. § 105.