Supreme Court introduces lottery for direct access to court proceedings

In December 2024, the Supreme Court of the United States announced a new online lottery system aimed at allowing the public to secure seats to watch oral arguments and sessions where decisions are announced. This initiative will begin during cases scheduled for late February. The court, which has a seating capacity of approximately 400, has historically only assigned a few dozen seats for public access particularly for high-profile cases, where demand often leads to fans lining up days in advance for a chance to witness the proceedings in person. Under this new system, individuals can apply for up to four seats and will receive notifications via email roughly three weeks before the sessions they have applied for. The goal behind the lottery system is to streamline access and provide a fair opportunity for a wider range of people to experience the courtroom environment without the need for long waits in line. The announcement of this lottery comes after the court had made adjustments to public access due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which included live audio streaming of arguments to ensure public engagement despite physical limitations. Since the pandemic, the Supreme Court maintained this live-stream feature even after resuming in-person hearings, aiming to balance public interest with health safety measures. Overall, this new lottery system represents a significant shift in how the public can engage with the court and signals the institution's willingness to adapt to contemporary access challenges.