The Highest Court in the Land is the basketball court located on the fifth floor of the United States Supreme Court Building. The Supreme Court of the United States is nicknamed the "highest court in the land" because it is the highest court in the federal judiciary of the United States, and the basketball court is located on a higher floor than the courtroom where the Supreme Court meets, hence t
- Venue
- The Highest Court in the Land
- Town
- Washington, US
The Highest Court in the Land is the basketball court located on the fifth floor of the United States Supreme Court Building. The Supreme Court of the United States is nicknamed the "highest court in the land" because it is the highest court in the federal judiciary of the United States, and the basketball court is located on a higher floor than the courtroom where the Supreme Court meets, hence the basketball court's nickname. While Supreme Court law clerks regularly play on the court, it is less common for the justices to do so. The first justice to play basketball on the court was Byron White, according to fellow justice Sandra Day O'Connor. The ceiling of the court is 14 feet and 4 inches tall, with the floor being approximately 78 feet long and 37 feet wide, which is smaller than NBA regulation size. The floor was originally made of concrete, though a new floor was installed in 1984 and a 2015 renovation installed a "pristine" hardwood floor. The court originally had wooden backboards, though they were changed to plexiglass in 1984 or 1997. The room does not have any benches. The responsibility of maintaining the court is assigned to the Marshal of the Supreme Court. Due to the court's low ceiling, players with skill in long-range shooting are disadvantaged. The room has a warning sign which declares: "Playing basketball and weightlifting are prohibited while the Court is in session." Mike Lee, who clerked for Justice Samuel Alito in the 2006-07 term, recalled how a player dribbling would translate into "big booms" in the court chambers. The court is not used exclusively for basketball, with other sports being played in it and an adjacent gym. Justice Hugo Black and Chief Justice William Rehnquist both used it for tennis, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor used it for aerobics, and several justices weightlifted. However, basketball is the game of choice for most. The games are mostly played by Supreme Court law clerks, though the building's security guards, cafeteria