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NEWS JUNE 14, 2021 ■ 17
argument calendar to callers. On opinion days, a pub- related to the court and the justices, roughly half of
lic line formed in the hall outside PIO and toward the them tweets, just one indication of the growth in va-
end of the term, would often wrap around the corner. riety and breadth of coverage. During the building’s
Today, opinions are available immediately on the closure, opinions are being released on the court’s
court’s website, and available in the paper slip opin- website only. But pre-COVID, reporters were still
ion form, as well. We transferred the office’s phone gathering at the two staff desks to receive opinions,
line to a staff member’s mobile phone so that there though many of the publications and outlets repre-
was no break in service during the building’s clo- sented in the room 40 terms ago no longer exist, and
sure. We continue to receive public calls and letters, everyone is on the same deadline. Slip opinions in
but we also receive a large volume of inquiries by booklet form are ready for PIO in the morning and
email and webmail. Since the building closed last placed in covered boxes by PIO staff to maintain con-
March, we have handled approximately 17,000 in- fidentiality until we hear the announcement from the
quiries through the court’s webmail address alone. courtroom, authorizing the release of each opinion.
What do members of the public generally want to What has been the most challenging part of the job?
know most about the court? Being ready to handle the unexpected. Supporting
Opinion requests, argument calendars, photos of the work of the court and keeping the public and press
the justices, how to attend an argument, procedural informed, particularly during major events: 9/11, An-
questions, compliments and complaints. thrax and, for more than a year, operating an office
How has press coverage of the court changed over completely remotely (and paperless) during a pandemic.
the years ? Did you have a particular interaction with a jus-
There were 35 “regulars,” reporters and artists hold- tice that is especially memorable?
ing court-issued credentials during the 1981 Term. Oh gosh, I’ve had so many memorable experiences
In the ’80s, reporters hung out most of the day in the and interactions. It is hard to single one out and prob-
pressroom. Some read briefs, some napped, and many ably unwise to try. But going way back, one special
smoked cigarettes as they banged out stories on type- memory is of my first interview with a justice for the
writers. Orders in emergency matters were delivered court’s newsletter at the time, The Docket Sheet. It was
to reporters by hand by the PIO, who often took off for the spring issue of 1985, when I was assigned to
her shoes to run down the hall from the Clerk’s Office interview then-Justice [William] Rehnquist about his
to the pressroom if the order was of particular interest. painting classes at the Arlington County Adult Edu-
Early in the morning on opinion days, 175 copies of cation night school. We chatted about how much he
each majority, dissent and concurrence awaited PIO enjoyed the weekly classes and how his interest began
staff, stacked on long tables in the Clerk’s Office, ready when his wife gave him a set of acrylic paints. When
to assemble and staple by hand. Towards June, when the the newsletter published, he dropped by the public
opinions grew thicker, the Clerk’s Office armed us with information office to ask for copies for his family. I
an industrial-sized stapler. At 10 a.m., reporters gathered have a copy signed by him hanging on my office wall.
in Room G-42 at the two staff desks, one designated as What will you miss the most?
the “express lane” for wires, networks and dailies with The unexpected! The wonderful staff in PIO; my
a.m. deadlines, and the other for weekly and p.m. dead- colleagues throughout the court; working with an
lines. A call from the Clerk’s Office authorized PIO to incredibly talented press corps.
release each opinion. More than one serious paper cut Any special plans during retirement?
was suffered in the frenzy of hands grabbing the un- Traveling and enjoying time with family and
wieldy 8.5×11 copies when the call was finally received. friends. ■
This term, 25 reporters and artists hold court-
issued “hard passes,” and we issue more than 1,000 Marcia Coyle, based in Washington, covers the U.S.
“day pass” credentials each term. In the past year, Supreme Court. Contact her at [email protected].
we’ve clipped approximately 10,000 news articles On Twitter: @MarciaCoyle
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