Supreme Court Police

The Supreme Court of the United States Police is a small U.S. federal law enforcement agency headquartered in the District of Columbia, whose mission is to ensure the integrity of the constitutional mission of the U.S. Supreme Court by protecting the Supreme Court building, the Justices, employees, guests, and visitors.[1] In accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 672, the Supreme Court Police falls under the jurisdiction of the Marshal of the United States Supreme Court who is appointed by the Supreme Court. The Marshal and the Supreme Court Police are authorized by 40 U.S.C. § 6121 to police the Supreme Court Building and protect the Justices, employees of the Court, and visitors to the Court.

Not to be confused with United States Marshals Service.
Supreme Court of the United States Police
Badge of a US Supreme Court Police Officer
Agency overview
Formed1949
Employees145
Jurisdictional structure
Federal agencyU.S.
Operations jurisdictionU.S.
Governing bodyMarshal of the United States Supreme Court
General nature
HeadquartersWashington, D.C
Sworn members145[1]
An officer of the Supreme Court Police in March 2012

History, duties

Established in 1935, the Supreme Court security force was tasked to provide protection for the new Supreme Court building.[2] The Court had previously resided in the United States Capitol, and the original force of 33 officers were selected from the ranks of the United States Capitol Police. In October 2018, Security Today reported that the force consisted of 125 officers.[3]

Legislation authorized the Police to carry firearms in 1982.[2]

Currently, the Supreme Court Police are responsible for protecting the Chief Justice, Associate Justices, building occupants, and the Court's historic building and grounds. Additional responsibilities include courtroom security, dignitary protection, emergency response, and providing assistance to building visitors.[1]

Units of the Supreme Court Police include:[3]

  • Uniformed Services
  • Protective Services
  • Threat Assessment Unit
  • Background Investigation Unit
  • Honor Guard
  • Key Response Squad
  • HazMat/Bomb Response
  • Canine Unit

Supreme Court officers are trained at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Georgia. They may retire at the age of 50 with 20 years of qualifying service, or at any age with 25 years of service. They are awarded "enhanced retirement benefits".[4]

In 2016 the starting salary for a newly hired member of the Supreme Court Police was $60,000 a year, when the national average for police officers, regardless of seniority, was $53,000.[2]

Notable incidents

When Justice David Souter was mugged, while jogging, in 2004, commentators questioned why his protective detail hadn't been present.[5] Members of the Police explained that Justices prefer to rely on their relative anonymity for protection.

When Supreme Court Justices leave the Washington area the Supreme Court Police contract with the US Marshal Service to provide security, but only if the Justices request that protection.[3]

In October 2018, crowds protested the appointment of Brett Kavanaugh.[6] 165 protestors were arrested by Capitol Police, and 5 were arrested by Supreme Court Police.

See also

References
  1. Koerner, Brendan I. (2004-05-03), "Who Protects David Souter?", Slate, retrieved 2007-04-27
  2. Bathroom Readers' Institute (2016). Uncle John's UNCANNY Bathroom Reader. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9781626867604.
  3. Ralph C. Jensen (2018-10-10). "Securing the Supreme Court: Who protects the Court and its inhabitants?". Security Today. Retrieved 2019-01-26. Who protects the court and its inhabitants? Does the Supreme Court receive protection from the Secret Service? The short answer is no. Unlike most members of the federal judiciary, they do not received protection from the U.S. Marshals Service either.
  4. United States Office of Personnel Management, Federal Law Enforcement Pay and Benefits: Report to the Congress, 2004; pp. 2, 13.
  5. Tony Mauro (Fall 2005). Lifting the Veil: Justice Blackmun's Papers and the Public Perception of the Supreme Court. Missouri Law Review. pp. 1–2. Retrieved 2019-01-26.
  6. Tara Bahrampour (2018-10-08). "Most of the protesters arrested during Kavanaugh confirmation have been released". Washington Post. Retrieved 2019-01-26. But five people arrested at the Supreme Court remained in the D.C. jail over the weekend, said Kathleen Arberg, a court spokeswoman.
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