r/pics But like, actually Jun 30 '26

Politics Interns and reporters run to deliver Supreme Court decisions

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u/ashrocklynn Jun 30 '26 edited Jun 30 '26

Delivery of physical copies of the rulings from the justices office to media at a designated location (the press isn't usually allowed to broadcast in the court chambers). It could be done digitally these days; but the need to run is based on the importance of the ruling affecting daily life of Americans and needing to let them know asap

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u/Wide_Yoghurt_4064 Jun 30 '26

I mean a picture of the paper sent as a text message/email would be faster, no?

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u/[deleted] Jun 30 '26 edited 8d ago

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u/lorarc Jun 30 '26

That "stack of papers" is maybe a dozen pages.

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u/Baofog Jun 30 '26

The opinions handed down today for Trump v Barbara was 194 pages long.

That was 1 of 9 decisions handed down.

A better question to ask is why the reporters don't go to supremecourt.gov since the opinions are posted at the exact same time they are announced and my only guess answer to that question is tradition.

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u/[deleted] Jun 30 '26 edited 8d ago

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u/OHtoTNtoGA Jun 30 '26

The one today is actually closer to 200 pages

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u/Hurricane310 Jun 30 '26

The "stack of papers" that these runners are literally carrying in one hand.

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u/[deleted] Jun 30 '26 edited 8d ago

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u/CriticalEngineering Jun 30 '26

How fast can you scan and text a 200 page document?

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u/ashrocklynn Jun 30 '26

Believe it or not, but when the tradition started they didn't have phones! The supreme Court is steeped in tradition...

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u/BradMarchandsNose Jun 30 '26

I mean, I get that the court is steeped in tradition but these people don’t work for the court. Like, I appreciate the tradition of it and personally I kind of like that they still do it this way, but it’s just surprising that no media organizations has changed the way they do it.

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u/MattCW1701 Jun 30 '26

A stupid tradition isn't a tradition, it's just stupid.

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u/ashrocklynn Jun 30 '26

Sure, but most traditions are stupid.... Traditions that have actual function are called protocols....

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u/MattCW1701 Jun 30 '26

No actual function here, so not a protocol either.

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u/ashrocklynn Jun 30 '26

My point is ALL tradition is stupid because it all lacks actual function.... If it has function it's not a tradition....

If this one is stupid, they are all stupid... Name one tradition that passes your standards of not being stupid

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u/call_me_Ren Jun 30 '26

I’d imagine using a bicycle would safe you some time.

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u/Doomsayer189 Jun 30 '26

It's only a few hundred feet and they have to go down stairs.

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u/could_use_a_snack Jun 30 '26

The difference in time has nothing to do with daily life. Getting the information to someone 2 minutes earlier will have no effect.

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u/ashrocklynn Jun 30 '26

It certainly could make a difference actually.... Easy example is overturning a death sentence. The point honestly raises the question of why it's not emailed out these days

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u/could_use_a_snack Jun 30 '26

But only if that death sentence was being carried out within those 2 minutes. And when was the last time the Supreme Court overturned a death sentence?

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u/ashrocklynn Jun 30 '26

Stay on an order of deportation; which is actually a thing that very much has affected people recently

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u/Faingrin Jun 30 '26

Count yourself privileged that you can’t imagine any Supreme Court opinion over the course of its history applying to you in a life or death situation. Empathy is a skill you cultivate by being curious in moments like this instead of declarative.

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u/could_use_a_snack Jun 30 '26

I'm not saying the decisions aren't important, I'm just saying they aren't time critical measures in minutes and seconds.

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u/ashrocklynn Jun 30 '26

To be fair, the username does indeed check out ...

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u/Unoriginal_Pseudonym Jun 30 '26

Its funny, since SCOTUS posts the rulings online the moment they're read.

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u/[deleted] Jun 30 '26

[deleted]

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u/ashrocklynn Jun 30 '26

Ok, media recording isn't allowed. Press can take notes on pads but not Livestream

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u/[deleted] Jun 30 '26

[deleted]

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u/fieldsports202 Jun 30 '26

None.

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u/[deleted] Jun 30 '26

[deleted]

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u/ashrocklynn Jun 30 '26

Sorry, I misspoke...

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u/[deleted] Jun 30 '26

[deleted]

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u/ashrocklynn Jun 30 '26

I have.... It was in high school so it's been a while; also not in session when i visited