WASHINGTON — Those wishing to observe the Supreme Court in action can now take advantage of a new online lottery system, as announced on Thursday.
This system is set to begin for cases scheduled for late February, and it will be used for both oral arguments and sessions where justices do not hear new cases but may issue rulings on previously argued matters.

The exact number of seats available through this lottery system has not been disclosed. The courtroom accommodates around 400 individuals; however, typically only a limited number of seats are allotted for public access.
For particularly significant cases, people often start lining up several days in advance. The court has indicated that a portion of the seating will still be available for those who choose to wait in line.

Members of the public may apply for up to four seats and will receive notification via email approximately three weeks prior to the session they applied for. After the calendar for the upcoming monthly arguments is released, applications for future sessions will open shortly after.

If attending in person is not feasible, the court provides live audio streaming of all hearings.
This change to allow live audio was established during the coronavirus pandemic when the courthouse was closed in March 2020, prompting justices to participate in hearings remotely via telephone.
Even after resuming in-person arguments the next year, the court retained the option for livestreaming, enabling public access when they fully reopened their doors in 2022.