Supreme Court Police

The Supreme Court of the United States Police is a small U.S. federal law enforcement agency headquartered in the District of Columbia, whose mission is to ensure the integrity of the constitutional mission of the U.S. Supreme Court by protecting the Supreme Court building, the Justices, employees, guests, and visitors.^[1] In accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 672, the Supreme Court Police falls under the jurisdiction of the Marshal of the United States Supreme Court who is appointed by the Supreme Court. The Marshal and the Supreme Court Police is authorized by 40 U.S.C. § 6121 to police the Supreme Court Building and protect the Justices, employees of the Court, and visitors to the Court.

Established in 1935, the Supreme Court security force was tasked to provide protection for the Supreme Court building. The Court had previously resided in the United States Capitol, and the original force of 33 officers were selected from the ranks of the United States Capitol Police.

Currently, the Supreme Court Police are responsible for protecting the Chief Justice, Associate Justices, building occupants, and the Court's historic building and grounds. Additional responsibilities include courtroom security, dignitary protection, emergency response, and providing assistance to building visitors.^[1]

The Supreme Court Police derives its enforcement authority from 40 U.S.C. § 6121.

Units of the Supreme Court Police include:

• Uniformed Services
• Protective Services
• Threat Assessment Unit
• Background Investigation Unit
• Honor Guard
• Key Response Squad
• HazMat/Bomb Response.
• Canine Unit

Supreme Court officers are trained at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Georgia. They may retire at the age of 50 with 20 years of qualifying service, or at any age with 25 years of service. They are awarded "enhanced retirement benefits".^[2]

See also

• Bailiff (United States)
• New York State Court Officers
• Court Security Officers (United States Marshals Service)
• List of United States federal law enforcement agencies

References

1. 1 2 3 Koerner, Brendan I. (2004-05-03), "Who Protects David Souter?", Slate, retrieved 2007-04-27 
2. ↑ United States Office of Personnel Management, Federal Law Enforcement Pay and Benefits: Report to the Congress, 2004; pp. 2, 13.

Supreme Court of the United States
The Court	Decisions Procedures History Supreme Court Building Old City Hall, Philadelphia 1791–1800 U.S. Capitol Chamber 1819–1860 U.S. Capitol Chamber 1860–1935
Current members	Chief Justice John Roberts Associate Justices Anthony Kennedy Clarence Thomas Ruth Bader Ginsburg Stephen Breyer Samuel Alito Sonia Sotomayor Elena Kagan Retired Justices John Paul Stevens Sandra Day O'Connor David Souter
All members	List of all members by court by seat by time in office by education succession timeline List of Chief Justices List of Associate Justices All nominations Unsuccessful nominations Nominations near end of presidency Court demographics Justices who served in Congress Ideological leanings
Court functionaries	Clerk Reporter of Decisions Supreme Court Police
Law clerks	Chief Justice Seat 1 Seat 2 Seat 3 Seat 4 Seat 6 Seat 8 Seat 9 Seat 10 All
Related	United States Solicitor General United States Reports Lawyers' Edition Amicus curiae
Other countries Law Portal