by Art Lien | Jun 27, 2022 | Arguments, Supreme Court

Not sure why it has taken me so long to post these, I guess the thrill is gone. Very sad to see the empty Court closed to the press and public, surrounded by tall barricades and closed streets.
Here are sketches from April’s arguments.













by Art Lien | Feb 3, 2022 | Supreme Court

A week ago Justice Stephen Breyer announced that he would be retiring from the Court later this term at the beginning of the summer recess. He will be missed, if not most of all then certainly to a great degree, by the sketch artists. He animates the bench with an extensive vocabulary of hand gestures and body language that makes it easy to tell a visual story, and his interminable hypotheticals allow ample time to capture the moment on paper.
Here are some sketches of Justice Breyer, chosen mostly at random not because of their historical significance but because they are the least bad drawings ( I always found it a challenge to limn this justice’s likeness ).

Charles J. Cooper, representing Senator Cruz, responds to Justice Breyer

Same -sex marriage argument, Hollingsworth v. Perry

Second amendment argument, DC v. Heller

Justice Breyer’s arm is in a sling under his robe after a bicycle fall

Justices Breyer & Scalia


Justice Breyer announces opinion in Aereo.

Justice Breyer with opinion of the Court on recess appointments.


Justice Breyer with opinion in Harris v. Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission

Justice Breyer opinions in Venezuela v. Helmerich & Payne, and BOA v. Miami

Justice Breyer with opinion in Turner v. U.S.

Justice Breyer questions repondent’s lawyer, Kelsi B. Corkran.

Justice Breyer questions Deputy Solicitor General Jeffrey B. Wall

Justice Breyer with opinion in Lagos v. United States

Justice Breyer dissents inTrump v. Hawaii

Justice Thomas with opinion in NIFLA v. Becerra ( Justice Breyer, right, dissents ).

Justice Breyer dissents in Nielsen v. Preap

Justoce Breyer with opinion in Merck Sharp & Dohme v. Albrecht

Justice Breyer’s cell phone rings during arguments in Bristol-Myers Squibb
by Art Lien | Jun 28, 2018 | Opinions, Supreme Court
Reporting on the retirement of Justice Kennedy, Nina Totenberg quoted R.E.M. “. . . it’s the end of the world as we know it”.
Although rumors had been circulating for over a year most Court-watchers figured Kennedy would hold off while Caligula occupied the White House. While disappointed, I can’t really blame him, after more than forty years on the bench, for wanting to step down. I’ll miss sketching him. When Kennedy joined the Supreme Court in 1988 USA Today quoted one of my fellow sketch artists as saying he had a “vanilla” face, in other words unremarkable. But not for me. I’ve grown accustomed to his face, the dome of his skull, the way his ears have no lobes, and the nose, ah the nose. Happy retirement Justice Kennedy.

Justice Kennedy announcing opinion in Masterpiece Cakeshop
Sketches from this week’s opinions are posted below.
by Art Lien | Jun 28, 2017 | Opinions, Supreme Court, Uncategorized
June is when the Supreme Court releases the last of its opinions in cases argued earlier during the term, especially the harder to decide cases. This term big news on the last day was about a case yet to be argued, when the Court agreed to hear Trump’s travel ban in the next term.
In other Supreme Court news, after announcing the disposition of the remaining cases, and other housekeeping matters, the Chief Justice noted the retirement of Lyle Denniston, a veteran of nearly 60 years covering the Court and known as the dean of the Supreme Court press.
Here are some sketches from the Court’s June opinions. More June sketches are on my online archives.

Chief Justice Roberts announcing disposition of the term’s remaining cases, as well as the travel ban.