Supreme Court of the United States

Media Advisory

For Further Information Contact:

December 8, 2023

Patricia McCabe (202) 479-3211


 

Monday, December 18, Coverage of Lying in Repose:

Retired Associate Justice Sandra Day O’Connor will lie in repose in the Great Hall of the Supreme Court on Monday, December 18. The casket will arrive in front of the Court just before 9:30 a.m. The north side of the Plaza will be cordoned off for journalists and still photographers. Press will be admitted to the Plaza area beginning at 8 a.m. Broadcast coverage on the Plaza will be pooled. All other broadcast cameras may set up on the north side of the front sidewalk in a designated press area.

U.S. Supreme Court police officers will serve on the casket team. Honorary pallbearers will be designated by the family. The casket will be placed in the Great Hall on the Lincoln Catafalque, which has been loaned to the Court by the U.S. Congress for the ceremony. A 1999 portrait of Justice O’Connor by Danni Dawson will be on display in the Great Hall.

C-SPAN will serve as broadcast pool for coverage of the ceremony in the Great Hall at 9:30 a.m. and throughout the day. An AP photographer will serve as pool photographer for the 9:30 a.m. ceremony.

Once the private ceremony has concluded, the public will be invited to pay respects from 10:30 a.m. until 8 p.m. Starting at 10:30 a.m., credentialed still photographers and reporters may cover throughout the day, but due to space limitations, must attend in small groups and an escort to the designated press area by the Public Information Office staff is required. Photographers may leave their positions one or two at a time in order to take a wide shot, or to shoot from another angle, but otherwise must work from a fixed position.

If you plan to attend the lying in repose, please contact the Public Information Office at pio@supremecourt.gov by Friday, December 15, at noon. Press should enter the building via the Maryland Avenue door and check in with the Public Information Office. Interviews in the Great Hall or elsewhere in the building are not permitted.

The public line will form on the sidewalk in front of the Court (on the East Capitol Street side) and public will enter the building via the visitor entrance. The Supreme Court building will be open for official business only on Monday, December 18, while Justice O’Connor lies in repose in the Great Hall.

Tuesday, December 19, Coverage of the Funeral Service:

The funeral service for Justice O’Connor will be celebrated on Tuesday, December 19, at 11 a.m. at Washington National Cathedral. The private service will be by invitation only. A livestream of the service will be available at cathedral.org.

All media wishing to cover the service must request press credentials from the Cathedral in advance here.

 

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