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United States Supreme Court
The U.S. Supreme Court Building, located in Washington, D.C., was completed in 1935 and designed by architect Cass Gilbert. Before its construction, the Court met in various spaces, including the U.S. Capitol. The building was intended to establish the judiciary as a coequal branch of government and features classical architecture symbolizing law, order, and permanence. It houses the chambers of the nine justices, the courtroom, and the extensive Supreme Court Library.
In the landmark Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka case, the Supreme Court Building served as the setting where oral arguments were presented and the unanimous decision was announced on May 17, 1954. The Court reviewed five consolidated cases, including Davis v. County School Board of Prince Edward County, originally tried in Virginia. Inside this building, Chief Justice Earl Warren delivered the opinion that racial segregation in public education was unconstitutional, overturning the 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson decision that had upheld “separate but equal.”
The decision marked a turning point in American history, and the Supreme Court Building became a symbol of the federal government’s authority to enforce civil rights and challenge systemic racism in public institutions.