The COVID Project
Context, not an orderThis record is guidance or an announcement kept for context. It is not counted among the orders in force.
The record
- Jurisdiction
- Supreme Court of the United States
- Level
- Court
- Authority
- 40 U.S.C. 6102
- Issued
- 2020-03-12 Mar. 12, 2020
- Effective
- 2020-03-12
- End
- The Building remained closed to the public through Sept. 30, 2021 and beyond (page states 'until further notice'; April 2022 argument protocols listed) (read as 2021-09-30)
- In force
- Mar. 12, 2020 to Sept. 30, 2021
- Quarters
- 2020 Q22020 Q32020 Q42021 Q12021 Q22021 Q3
2020 Q22020 Q32020 Q42021 Q12021 Q22021 Q3
- Limitation types
- Business closureGathering capCourts and public offices
- Addressees
- Functions reached
- CT courts (public and bar excluded from the Building; argument attendance barred)
- CS client representation
- MK bar admissions and public ceremonies
- CB tourism (the Building is a principal Washington visitor attraction; visitor programs suspended)
- Character
- context
- Collection
- Federal lands, science agencies and courts AGY-FED-LANDS-SCIENCE-COURTS
Operative words
Out of concern for the health and safety of the public and Supreme Court employees, the Supreme Court Building will be closed to the public until further notice. The Building will remain open for official business.... Press Release Regarding April Oral Argument Sessions (April 11, 2022); Order Rescinding Prior COVID Orders (July 19, 2021); Order Regarding Filings (April 15, 2020) (Rescinded July 19, 2021); Order Regarding Filing Deadlines (March 19, 2020) (Rescinded July 19, 2021); Clerk's Office COVID-19 Guidance (Updated July 19, 2021).
Enforcement
40 U.S.C. 6102-6103, 6137 (Supreme Court Police; violations of building regulations punishable by fine or imprisonment up to 60 days)
Notes
The page is the Court's own running index of its COVID orders; the Mar. 16, 2020 release (022) confirms 'The Building will remain closed to the public until further notice.'
Retrieval noteLive page rendered Sept. 26, 2026; the Mar. 12, 2020 press release itself (pr_03-12-20) now redirects to the press-release index and was not separately saved. the instrument with legal effect is the Administrative Order, standing order or general order it describes (for the Tax Court, the Administrative Orders of 2020-2021; for the Supreme Court, the Court's announcements and orders list). Retrieve and cite the order; keep the release as context).