When the Supreme Court closed its front doors to the public, ending the practice of having visitors ascend the great marble staircase in front of the building and pass through the massive, bronze doors under the words “Equal Justice Under Law” (visitors now enter through side doors), not everyone was happy about it. Even two Supreme Court justices objected.

Now, a lawmaker is floating a resolution to try to get the court to reverse itself.

When the decision to close off the front entrance to visitors was announced back in May, the Court cited security reasons. But California Democrat Rep. Anna Eshoo thinks more is at stake. “I think we can address risk without giving up our ideals, our national ideals in terms of justice, openness and access,” she told the Washington Post.

Eshoo introduced a resolution last month blasting the Court’s decision to close the doors, and now has 30 co-sponsors. While little action is expected on the move this session, she said she will reintroduce it next year if necessary.

The decision to close the doors drew a dissent of sorts from Justice Stephen Breyer, who wrote in a statement: “I think the change is unfortunate, and I write in the hope that the public will one day in the future be able to enter the Court’s Great Hall after passing under the famous words ‘Equal Justice Under Law.”

“Each of these elements does its part to encourage contemplation of the Court’s central purpose, the administration of justice to all who seek it,” Breyer wrote. The statement was also signed by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

This entry was posted on Monday, August 23rd, 2010 at 7:56 am and is filed under Stephen Breyer, Supreme Court. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.