Public Building Act of 1926 with Amendments

[CHAPTER 572-1ST SESSION]

[H. J. Res. 341]

JOINT RESOLUTION

To dissolve the United States Supreme Court Building Commission.

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the United States Supreme Court Building Commission, having fully executed all the duties imposed upon it by law, accomplished the purposes for which it was created, settled all accounts, and submitted its final report to Congress, is hereby dissolved and the members of such Commission discharged from any further duties in connection with the matters heretofore committed by law to such Commission.

SEC. 2. All the books, papers, documents, and other records of such Commission shall be transferred to such permanent agencies of the United States, including the Supreme Court of the United States, as the Chief Justice of the United States shall deem appropriate. Approved, August 7, 1939.

(232)

[CHAPTER 479-1ST SESSION]

[H. R. 4948]

AN ACT

Relating to the policing of the building and grounds of the Supreme Court of the United States.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Marshal of the Supreme Court of the United States, under the general supervision and direction of the Chief Justice of the United States, may designate employees of the Supreme Court as special policemen, without additional compensation, for duty in connection with the policing of the Supreme Court Building and grounds and adjacent streets.

SEC. 2. Public travel in and occupancy of the Supreme Court grounds is hereby restricted to the sidewalks and other paved surfaces. SEC. 3. It shall be unlawful to offer or expose any article for sale in the Supreme Court Building or grounds; to display any sign, placard, or other form of advertisement therein; or to solicit fares, alms, subscriptions, or contributions therein.

SEC. 4. It shall be unlawful to step or climb upon, remove, or in eny way injure any statue, seat, wall, fountain, or other erection or architectural feature, or any tree, shrub, plant, or turf in the Supreme Court Building or grounds.

SEC. 5. It shall be unlawful to discharge any firearm, firework or explosive, set fire to any combustible, make any harangue or oration, or utter loud, threatening, or abusive language in the Supreme Court Building or grounds.

SEC. 6. It shall be unlawful to parade, stand, or move in processions or assemblages in the Supreme Court Building or grounds, or to display therein any flag, banner, or device designed or adapted to bring into public notice any party, organization, or movement.

SEC. 7. (a) In addition to the restrictions and requirements specified in sections 2 to 6, inclusive, of this Act, the Marshal of the Supreme Court may prescribe such regulations, approved by the Chief Justice of the United States, as may be deemed necessary for the adequate protection of the Supreme Court Building and grounds and of persons and property therein, and for the maintenance of suitable order and decorum within the Supreme Court Building and grounds.

(b) All regulations promulgated under the authority of this section shall be printed in one or more of the daily newspapers published in the District of Columbia, and shall not become effective until the expiration of ten days after the date of such publication.

SEC. 8. Whoever violates any provision of sections 2 to 6, inclusive, of this Act, or of any regulation prescribed under section 7 of this Act, shall be fined not more than $100 or imprisoned not more than sixty days, or both, prosecution for such offenses to be had in the municipal court for the District of Columbia, upon information by

the United States Attorney or any of his assistants: Provided, That in any case where, in the commission of any such offense, public property is damaged in an amount exceeding $100, the period of imprisonment for the offense may be not more than five years.

SEC. 9. The special police provided for in section 1 of this Act shall have the power, within the Supreme Court Building and grounds and adjacent streets, to enforce and make arrests for violations of any provision of sections 2 to 6, inclusive, of this Act, of any regulation prescribed under section 7 of this Act, or of any law of the United States or of any State or any regulation promulgated pursuant thereto Provided, That the Metropolitan Police force of the District of Columbia are hereby authorized to make arrests within the Supreme Court Building and grounds for any violations of any such laws or regulations, but such authority shall not be construed as authorizing the Metropolitan Police force, except with the consent or upon the request of the Marshal of the Supreme Court or his assistants, to enter the Supreme Court Building to make arrests in response to complaints or to serve warrants or to patrol the Supreme Court Building or grounds.

SEC. 10. In order to permit the observance of authorized ceremonies within the Supreme Court Building and grounds, the Marshal of the Supreme Court of the United States may suspend for such occasions so much of the prohibitions contained in sections 2 to 6, inclusive, of this Act as may be necessary for the occasion, but only if responsible officers shall have been appointed, and arrangements determined which are adequate, in the judgment of the Marshal, for the maintenance of suitable order and decorum in the proceedings, and for the protection of the Supreme Court Building and grounds and of persons and property therein.

SEC. 11. For the purposes of this Act the Supreme Court grounds shall be held to extend to the line of the face of the east curb of First Street Northeast, between Maryland Avenue Northeast and East Capitol Street; to the line of the face of the south curb of Maryland Avenue Northeast, between First Street Northeast and Second Street Northeast; to the line of the face of the west curb of Second Street Northeast, between Maryland Avenue Northeast and East Capitol Street; and to the line of the face of the north curb of East Capitol Street between First Street Northeast and Second Street Northeast. Approved August 18, 1949.