Supreme Court fencing removed, building remains closed
Tall, nonscalable fencing that has been outside the perimeter of the Supreme Court since May has been removed, though the building remains closed to the public.
The fence was erected in early May shortly after public protests mounted over a leaked draft opinion that became finalized on June 24 with the decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which overturned nearly 49 years of abortion access precedent under Roe v. Wade by allowing states to make laws severely limiting such procedures.
The high court’s spokeswoman, Patricia McCabe, told the Washington Examiner the fence was removed sometime over the weekend. “The Court, as a matter of policy, does not discuss security arrangements,” McCabe added.
TALL SECURITY FENCES ERECTED AROUND SUPREME COURT AFTER ABORTION OPINION LEAK
Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/AP
As of Monday, small barricades remain in front of the building’s front steps and plaza.
In the weeks since the Dobbs opinion, law enforcement officials have warned about threats against justices on the court and even responded to a threat on June 8 by a 26-year-old California man, Nicholas J. Roske, who was arrested after attempting to murder Justice Brett Kavanaugh and was carrying a gun, knife, pepper spray, and burglary tools. Roske has pleaded not guilty to the attempted assassination.
More recently, officials have also warned about the potential for heightened threats against government buildings, police, and judges following the Aug. 8 FBI raid at former President Donald Trump‘s Florida estate as part of an investigation into the mishandling of classified records.
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The public has not had access to the highest court in the land since early 2020 with the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, and the building remains closed. Still, justices have heard oral arguments in person for the past year, with only court employees, lawyers, and reporters allowed to be present.
Justices are slated to meet back for the Supreme Court’s opening conference on Sept. 28, and the fall term begins Oct. 3.
