Washington and Lee University
Students in Phil 370: Roe v. Wade and the Abortion Question, a new Spring Term course taught by Prof. Mahon, visited the United States Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., on Monday, May 17. They listened to three opinions (and a dismissal) handed down by the Court, the first (United States v. Comstock) delivered by Justice Breyer, and the next two (Graham v. Florida, and Abbott v. Abbott) as well as the dismissal (Sullivan v. Florida), delivered by Justice Kennedy. They also listened to Chief Justice Roberts admit a number of attorneys to the bar.
For full story about this course, see the W&L University news blog here.
From left to right: Lauren Borden, Stephanie Schaefer, Zac Burke, Jonathan Guest, Will Smith, Alex Koos, Scott Thomas, Anthony Cardona, Doug Szabo, Lucian Grove, Kyle Bond, Jonathan Gaffney, David Wilson, Andrew Detrick, Michael Freeman, and Olivia Burr.
Students had to queue in the early hours of the morning to obtain tickets and line up for admission to the court building and the courtroom itself, passing security checkpoints at each stage. Students were seated in chairs around the side of the courtroom. Later students watched a documentary about the history of the Court and returned to the courtroom to listen to a lecture about the Court and the Justices.
Students joined by Prof. Mahon (Olivia Burr photographing)
Waiting in line for tickets
Inside the marble Court with busts of Justices, waiting to enter the courtroom
A peek at the courtroom from the entrance (photo taken from web) - students sat on the chairs shown