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The Evolution of Justice Doors at the Supreme Court | BRIdge From The Past

Description

What do The Bronze Doors in front of the Supreme Court building tell us about the Founding principles of justice and the rule of law? In this episode of BRIdge From The Past, Mary explores Gilbert and John Donnelly Sr.’s Justice Panels displayed in front of the Supreme Court building in bronze. Finished in 1935, these panels depict in chronological order the evolution of justice according to Western tradition. Why do you think the artist chose these specific events to be enshrined forever? What event depicting justice would you add to the doors?

Related Resources

James Earle Fraser’s Contemplation of Justice and Authority of Law Sculptures | BRIdge From The Past

What do the sculptures outside of the Supreme Court building tell us about the Founding principles of justice and the rule of law? In this episode of BRIdge from the Past, Mary examines the front steps of the Supreme Court and James Earle Fraser’s accompanying sculptures. The sculptures followed the opening of the Supreme Court building in 1935 and aimed to be more than just purely decorative. What were Fraser’s goals when designing these sculptures? How did he accomplish these through the symbolism and detail of each?

Landmark Supreme Court Cases

Read summaries of the majority ruling in landmark Supreme Court cases that have had an impact on our rights as citizens.

Justice for All

The American Founders believed that justice needed to be protected. They wrote the Declaration of Independence to demonstrate to the British king and Parliament that this natural right was not being protected in the colonies. When forming the United States, the Founders protected justice in the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Over time, more groups of people like African Americans and women began to reap the benefits of the protections of justice.