Supreme Court Introduces Online Lottery for Public Seating
The Supreme Court of the United States has announced a new online lottery system for those eager to witness court proceedings in person. This system, introduced on Thursday, will allow the public to secure seats for upcoming cases starting late February. The lottery will be applicable for both argument sessions and meetings where justices may announce decisions on previously discussed cases.
While the exact number of seats available through this lottery has not been specified, the courtroom accommodates about 400 individuals. However, only a limited number of seats are typically reserved for the public. Notably, some seats will still be available for those who prefer to wait in line, particularly for high-profile cases that often see lines forming days in advance.
Interested individuals can apply for up to four seats and will receive notifications regarding their lottery status via email approximately three weeks before the scheduled session. Applications for future sessions will be opened shortly after the monthly arguments calendar is released.
For those unable to attend in person, the Supreme Court continues to offer live audio streams of all its arguments. This practice began when the courthouse was closed due to the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020, prompting justices to conduct arguments remotely via telephone. The live streaming feature was maintained even after the return to in-person arguments and has been available since the public’s return in 2022.
