Norton to Introduce Bill to Prohibit Permanent Fencing at Supreme Court

WASHINGTON, D.C. – After the Supreme Court removed the temporary anti-climb fencing around its grounds last weekend, which was installed in May, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today announced that she will introduce a bill to prohibit the installation of permanent fencing around the Supreme Court grounds. Norton had urged the Supreme Court Marshal not to leave the temporary fencing up longer than absolutely necessary.

"Public property should be open to the public," Norton said. "The distance between government and the people has grown, with trust in government, including the Supreme Court, low. We should not entrench that distance further by placing intimidating barriers between ourselves as public servants and the people we serve. There also more effective, less obtrusive security solutions than archaic fencing. Moreover, the Supreme Court is in a residential neighborhood in the District of Columbia. The Supreme Court grounds are widely used by both D.C. residents and visitors.

"While I am not aware of any plans to install permanent fencing at the Supreme Court, temporary security measures often become permanent, and this bill will signal congressional opposition to any such effort."

Last year, Norton introduced a bill to prohibit the installation of permanent fencing at the U.S. Capitol complex.

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