See http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100503/ap_on_go_su_co/us_supreme_court_access

"The Supreme Court is closing its iconic front entrance beneath the words 'Equal Justice Under Law.'

Beginning Tuesday, visitors no longer will ascend the wide marble steps to enter the 75-year-old building. Instead, they will be directed to a central screening facility to the side of and beneath the central steps that was built to improve the court's security as part of a $122 million renovation.

Two justices, Stephen Breyer and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, called the change unfortunate and unjustified."

-- GloverWright - 03 May 2010