PRIA, Government Policy, Made Personal

Summary

Under rules the Marshal sets and the Chief Justice approves, the Marshal and the Supreme Court Police can police the Supreme Court building, its grounds, and nearby streets to protect people and property. They can protect the Chief Justice, any Associate Justice, official guests, Court officers and employees on duty, and, if the Marshal decides it is needed, retired or former justices and immediate family members of justices or officers. While carrying out these duties, they may arrest people for violations of federal or state laws and regulations. They may carry firearms when required under section 6102, this subchapter, and subchapter IV. If protecting an official guest outside the District of Columbia, Maryland, or Virginia requires firearms, the Chief Justice or an Associate Justice must give written authorization.

Title 40, §6121

Public Buildings, Property, and Works, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Authority of Marshal of the Supreme Court and Supreme Court Police.—

In accordance with regulations prescribed by the Marshal of the Supreme Court and approved by the Chief Justice of the United States, the Marshal and the Supreme Court Police shall have authority—

(1)to police the Supreme Court Building and grounds and adjacent streets to protect individuals and property;

(2)in any location, to protect—

(A)the Chief Justice, any Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, and any official guest of the Supreme Court;

(B)any officer or employee of the Supreme Court while that officer or employee is performing official duties; and

(C)if the Marshal determines such protection is necessary—

(i)any retired or former Chief Justice or Associate Justice of the Supreme Court; or

(ii)any member of the immediate family of the Chief Justice, any Associate Justice, any retired or former Chief Justice or Associate Justice, or any officer of the Supreme Court.

(3)while performing duties necessary to carry out paragraph (1) or (2), to make arrests for any violation of Federal or State law and any regulation under Federal or State law; and

(4)to carry firearms as may be required while performing duties under section 6102 of this title, this subchapter, and subchapter IV.

(b)Authorization To Carry Firearms—

Duties under subsection (a)(2)(A) with respect to an official guest of the Supreme Court in any location (other than the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia) shall be authorized in writing by the Chief Justice or an Associate Justice, if those duties require the carrying of firearms under subsection (a)(4).

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 6121(a)40:13n(a).Aug. 18, 1949, ch. 479, § 9(a), 63 Stat. 617; Pub. L. 93–198, title VII, § 739(g)(8), Dec. 24, 1973, 87 Stat. 829; Pub. L. 97–390, § 1(c)(1), Dec. 29, 1982, 96 Stat. 1957. 6121(b)40:13n(c).Aug. 18, 1949, ch. 479, § 9(c), as added Pub. L. 97–390, § 1(c)(2), Dec. 29, 1982, 96 Stat. 1958; Pub. L. 99–218, Dec. 26, 1985, 99 Stat. 1729; Pub. L. 99–492, § 1, Oct. 16, 1986, 100 Stat. 1240; Pub. L. 101–462, Oct. 25, 1990, 104 Stat. 1079; Pub. L. 103–193, Dec. 14, 1993, 107 Stat. 2293; Pub. L. 104–280, § 1, Oct. 9, 1996, 110 Stat. 3359, Pub. L. 106–518, title III, § 313, Nov. 13, 2000, 114 Stat. 2421. In this section, the words “any State” are substituted for “any part of the United States” to eliminate unnecessary words and for consistency with section 6101 of the revised title. In subsection (a)(3), the words “federal or state law and any regulation under federal or state law” are substituted for “a law of the United States or any State and any regulation under such law” for consistency in the revised title. In subsection (b), the words “The Marshal of the Supreme Court shall report annually to the Congress on March 1 regarding the administrative cost of carrying out his duties under such subsection” are omitted pursuant to section 3003 of the Federal Reports Elimination and Sunset Act of 1995 (31 U.S.C. 1113 note). See, also, page 13 of House Document No. 103–7.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2025—Subsec. (a)(2)(C). Pub. L. 119–60 added subpar. (C) and struck out former subpar. (C) which read as follows: “any member of the immediate family of the Chief Justice, any Associate Justice, or any officer of the Supreme Court if the Marshal determines such protection is necessary.” 2022—Subsec. (a)(2)(C). Pub. L. 117–148 added subpar. (C). 2019—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 116–75, § 2(1)(A), substituted “any location” for “any State” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 116–75, § 2(1)(B), substituted “Federal or State law” for “federal or state law” in two places. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 116–75, § 2(2), substituted “Authorization To Carry Firearms—” for “Additional Requirements Related to Subsection (a)(2).—” in heading, struck out par. (1) designation and heading before “Duties under”, substituted “any location” for “any State”, and struck out par. (2) which provided that the authority provided under subsec. (a)(2) would expire on Dec. 29, 2019. 2013—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 113–62 substituted “2019” for “2013”. 2008—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 110–402 substituted “2013” for “2008”. 2004—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 108–356 substituted “2008” for “2004”.

§6121 General