# I have been invited to observe arguments before the United States Supreme Court. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 8, 2011, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-invited-to-observe-arguments-before-the-united-states-supreme-court/588360 "2011-07-08T23:19:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2011, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-invited-to-observe-arguments-before-the-united-states-supreme-court/588360/21 "2011-07-11T13:59:00Z")
> [@Rysdad](#): > > Tip: It’s probably not the best idea to say, loudly, “Hey, Clarence! Wake the hell up!” Shooting spitballs at the Justices is still allowed though, right? 😃 No, seriously, it is a great opportunity for you. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2011, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-invited-to-observe-arguments-before-the-united-states-supreme-court/588360/22 "2011-07-11T14:11:48Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > Can you bring chips in there? > [@Shirley\_Ujest](#): > > I think you should take a foam #1 finger into the court room. You can’t take _anything_ into the chamber, particularly electronic devices of any kind, including phones. I don’t know what they do for general gallery spectators, but press is required to leave everything except pen and paper in the press room. They might have a visitors anteroom where they’ll make you leave your phone. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2011, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-invited-to-observe-arguments-before-the-united-states-supreme-court/588360/23 "2011-07-11T22:18:21Z")
Make history. Get naked in court. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2011, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-invited-to-observe-arguments-before-the-united-states-supreme-court/588360/24 "2011-07-11T23:08:39Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > You can’t take _anything_ into the chamber, particularly electronic devices of any kind, including phones. Bummer. Couldn’t you just picture the Supremes’ faces when, during some intense verbal sparring, your cell phone sounded off with \*“Ring a dong ding ding-a doh…” \* [sub]That’s my cell ringtone. I downloaded it from the Geico website.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2011, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-invited-to-observe-arguments-before-the-united-states-supreme-court/588360/25 "2011-07-11T23:43:49Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > You can’t take _anything_ into the chamber, particularly electronic devices of any kind, including phones. I don’t know what they do for general gallery spectators, but press is required to leave everything except pen and paper in the press room. They might have a visitors anteroom where they’ll make you leave your phone. Well, you’re no fun. ---
**Author:** ![ENugent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/4af34b/32.png) [@ENugent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ENugent)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-invited-to-observe-arguments-before-the-united-states-supreme-court/588360/26 "2011-07-12T00:06:22Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > I don’t know yet, i just spoke to him, and he said he just found out a week or so ago, and would get me tickets. I didn’t get the defendant’s name, but I have been trying to research it online, with no results. Do you know the state? [Smith v. Louisiana](http://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/smith-v-louisiana) appears to be an Innocence Project case, and cert was granted at the end of June. If it’s in California, it could be [Martel v. Clair](http://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/martel-v-clair), which also got cert in June - I think that one is Innocence Project, but I’m not sure. I am very jealous of your opportunity. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-invited-to-observe-arguments-before-the-united-states-supreme-court/588360/27 "2011-07-12T00:10:26Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > You can’t take _anything_ into the chamber, particularly electronic devices of any kind, including phones. I don’t know what they do for general gallery spectators, but press is required to leave everything except pen and paper in the press room. They might have a visitors anteroom where they’ll make you leave your phone. Something like this. It’s basically a locker room for the general public. I went to see arguments a couple of years ago. The regular visitors’ viewing area is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay in the back of the room, though, so here’s hoping you get better seats than that! ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-invited-to-observe-arguments-before-the-united-states-supreme-court/588360/28 "2011-07-12T02:03:16Z")
> [@ENugent](#): > > Do you know the state? [Smith v. Louisiana](http://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/smith-v-louisiana) appears to be an Innocence Project case, and cert was granted at the end of June. If it’s in California, it could be [Martel v. Clair](http://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/martel-v-clair), which also got cert in June - I think that one is Innocence Project, but I’m not sure. Good sleuthing. My wife’s cousin is one of the attorneys in Martel v. Clair (David W. Fermino, based in San Francisco) ---
**Author:** ![Marconi\_N.Cheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Marconi\_N.Cheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marconi_N.Cheese)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-invited-to-observe-arguments-before-the-united-states-supreme-court/588360/29 "2011-07-12T05:40:38Z")
Wow, how exciting! I know the meat of the cases are in the documents submitted, but my favorite part of the process is the oral arguments. I love reading the transcripts. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-invited-to-observe-arguments-before-the-united-states-supreme-court/588360/30 "2011-07-12T07:15:11Z")
When I lived in DC I headed to the court several times. If you’re interested in seeing a high-profile case (the pledge case, the early Gitmo cases, etc.) get there in the late evening, bring a sleeping bag/mat, and talk conlaw with all the other folks sleeping out for a seat. Not a good seat, just entrance into the building. If you go on a day with non-glamourous cases (which are still interesting), you don’t necessarily have to sleep over. There are large lockers provided after entry to store sleeping bags and other bits and pieces. When I lived on Cap. Hill I used to head round every once in a while when I couldn’t stay or couldn’t sit the next day for a case and bring a pizza or other creature comforts to the random strangers camping out. Not quite like a Dead show, but some things in common. YMMV, and I haven’t been there since '04–security may have changed. (Ticketholders got through a different door, btw.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-invited-to-observe-arguments-before-the-united-states-supreme-court/588360.md?page=1)