Supreme Court's new 'class photo' includes number of firsts

Mike Letterman

Oct 7, 2022, 7:13 PM
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Members of the Supreme Court sit for a new group portrait following the addition of Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, at the Supreme Court building in Washington, Friday, Oct. 7, 2022. Bottom row, from left, Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice Clarence Thomas, Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts, Associate Justice Samuel Alito, and Associate Justice Elena Kagan. Top row, from left, Associate Justice Amy Coney Barrett, Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch, Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh, and Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson stands as she and members of the Supreme Court pose for a new group portrait following her addition, at the Supreme Court building in Washington, Friday, Oct. 7, 2022. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Members of the Supreme Court sit for a new group portrait following the addition of Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, at the Supreme Court building in Washington, Friday, Oct. 7, 2022. Bottom row, from left, Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice Clarence Thomas, Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts, Associate Justice Samuel Alito, and Associate Justice Elena Kagan. Top row, from left, Associate Justice Amy Coney Barrett, Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch, Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh, and Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

A group photo of the Supreme Court's nine members has been a tradition for a long time. It has never looked like that one.

The first black female justice was added to the court in June. A number of firsts have been marked by her addition. White men don't hold a majority on the court for the first time and four women serve together for the first time. The court has never had two black justices.

The justices started their summer break when Jackson joined the court.

The group's formal photo is sometimes referred to as the class photo. The justices are in front of a red curtain like in the courtroom. Chief Justice John Roberts is in the center of a group of justices who are wearing black robes. Four justices are standing behind them. Justice Clarence Thomas is the longest serving justice and sits on the right side of the court. Jackson is standing in the middle of the street.

One of the few times the group is photographed together is when the class photo is taken. At Jackson's investiture, the justices were photographed together. A new class photo is usually not taken until another justice is on the court.