No justices were actually sitting in the courtroom on the first Monday of the October 2020 term, nor where any lawyers or the public. The Covid-19 pandemic has forced all of us to adapt to new conditions of social distancing. For the Supreme Court that has meant hearing arguments by conference call, with the bonus that the audio is live-streamed to the public. For me, while it’s great to listen to the arguments from the comfort of my studio, there’s not much to draw. At least there wasn’t until arguing counsel started sending me photos of their kitchen-table set-ups ( not really, at least not yet. But I’m hoping for a kitchen setting ). I’m enjoying the change after forty years of lawyers in suits arguing from the lectern.
From CUNY Law School, Ramzi Kassem argues for respondents
Deepak Gupta for respondent
Sean Marotta for petitioner
Stephen I. Vladeck for respondents
Kelsi B. Corkran for petitioner
Mark D. Standridge for respondents
Texas Solicitor General Kyle D. Hawkins
Nicholas J. Bronni, Arkansas Solicitor General petitioner
Craig Goldblatt for petitioner
Brian P. Goldman for petitioner
Courtartist is me, Arthur Lien. I've been sketching the courts since 1976, and for most of that time the U.S. Supreme Court has been my regular beat. I've been working almost exclusively for NBC News since 1980.