There is a basketball court on the top floor of the U.S. Supreme Court Building. It’s known as the “highest court in the land.”
The Supreme Court's Secret Basketball Court
While the Supreme Court justices debate constitutional law on the fourth floor, there's another kind of court action happening one floor above. The U.S. Supreme Court Building houses a basketball court on its fifth floor—literally the highest court in the land.
The nickname isn't just clever wordplay. The basketball court actually sits above the Supreme Court chamber, making it physically higher than the nation's highest judicial authority.
From Storage Room to Slam Dunks
When architect Cass Gilbert designed the Supreme Court Building in the 1930s, he intended the fifth-floor space for storing journals and records. But sometime in the 1940s, an enterprising (and unknown) employee had a better idea. The storage room was transformed into a gym, complete with a basketball court.
It's been a fixture ever since, offering law clerks, police officers, and other court employees a place to blow off steam between legal proceedings.
Not Your Average Court
Don't expect NBA regulation standards. The court measures roughly 78 feet long by 37 feet wide—significantly smaller than the standard 94-by-50-foot court. The ceiling clearance is even more limiting: just 14 feet, 4 inches above the floor.
That low ceiling creates interesting challenges. High-arcing shots? Forget about it. Players have learned to adapt with flatter trajectories, and the plexiglass backboards (wood until 1984) hanging from the ceiling have taken their share of errant passes.
The cramped quarters give the space a unique character—part basketball court, part architectural oddity.
Rules of the Highest Court
There's one iron-clad rule posted in the gym: "Playing basketball and weight lifting are prohibited while the court is in session."
Imagine trying to concentrate on oral arguments about constitutional rights while sneakers squeak overhead. The rule makes perfect sense, but it's still amusing to picture a sign that could mean either legal proceedings or basketball games.
Unfortunately for basketball fans and tourists, the Highest Court isn't open to the public. It remains an exclusive perk for those who work in the building—a hidden amenity that few Americans even know exists.
A Tradition of Courthouse Hoops
The Supreme Court isn't alone in mixing justice with jump shots. Many courthouses have gyms or recreational facilities for employees who work long hours on demanding cases. But none can claim the same delightful double meaning.
Over the decades, the court has hosted countless games between clerks, informal pickup sessions, and probably more than a few arguments about traveling calls. It's a reminder that even in the most serious institutions, people need a place to unwind—preferably one with a great pun attached.