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Office of the Curator c Supreme Court of the United States
INFORMATION SHEET
The East Pediment of the Supreme Court, located above the rear of the building, is often missed
by visitors. It can be seen only from the street behind the building. The East Pediment was
designed by Hermon A. MacNeil (1866-1947), an artist who studied under the masters of classical
architecture and design. MacNeil was chosen by Cass Gilbert (1867-1934), the building's architect,
and the two worked closely from 1932 to 1934 to create the thirteen symmetrically balanced
allegorical figures. MacNeil submitted the following description to the Supreme Court Building
Commission for the "Eastern Pediment":
Law as an element of civilization was normally and naturally derived or inherited in this
country from former civilizations. The "Eastern Pediment" of the Supreme Court Building
suggests therefore the treatment of such fundamental laws and precepts as are derived
from the East. Moses, Confucius and Solon are chosen as representing three great
civilizations and form the central group of this Pediment. Flanking this central group-
left - is the symbolical figure bearing the means of enforcing the law. On the right a
group tempering justice with mercy, allegorically treated. The "Youth" is brought into
both these groups to suggest the "Carrying on" of civilization through the knowledge
imbibed of right and wrong. The next two figures with shields; Left - The settlement of
disputes between states through enlightened judgment. Right - Maritime and other
large functions of the Supreme Court in protection of the United States. The last figures:
Left - Study and pondering of judgments. Right - A tribute to the fundamental and
supreme character of this Court. Finale - The fable of the Tortoise and the Hare.
The East Pediment by Hermon MacNeil
The East Pediment
Updated: 8/18/2000
Office of the Curator c Supreme Court of the United States
All photographs by Franz Jantzen unless otherwise noted. Collections of the Supreme Court of the United States.
1932 Note regarding the East Pediment Inscription
The inscription on the East Pediment - Justice the Guardian of Liberty - is one of the few
decisions regarding the architecture of the building that was made directly by one of the Justices.
On May 2, 1932, David Lynn, the Architect of the Capitol, sent Chief Justice Charles Evans
Hughes a letter with Cass Gilbert's suggestions for the East and West Pediment inscriptions.
The Chief Justice agreed with the suggested inscription for the West Pediment, Equal Justice
Under Law, but did not like the one proposed for the East Pediment, Equal Justice is the Foundation
of Liberty. Chief Justice Hughes sent a note (below) with a new inscription to Justice Willis
Van Devanter, the only Justice beside Chief Justice Hughes and his predecessor, Chief Justice
William Howard Taft, to serve on the Supreme Court Building Commission. Justice Van Devanter
responded with a succinct reply: "Good (W.V.)". A few days later, the Chief Justice formally
answered Lynn's request by providing the new inscription, stating simply "We think that the
inscription for the East Portico can be improved."
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