U.S. Supreme Court Bar Admissions Program

A once-in-lifetime Supreme Court experience offered by the ABA Judicial Division.  

For many years, the Judicial Division's Lawyers Conference has organized a Supreme Court Bar Admissions Program, hosting a small group of 12 members in Washington, D.C. for an extraordinary visit.  

The 2023 Program will take place on October 3, 2023 in Washington, D.C. 

Registration for the 2023 Program is closed. Information about the 2024 Program will be availe in early 2024.

Experience swearing-in to the highest court, brought to you by the largest national organization for lawyers. Check off a bucket list item with your guest, colleagues, and friends – or meet new ones.

The Judicial Division's exclusive U.S. Supreme Court swearing-in experience includes:

• Coffee & Case Preview at the Courthouse the morning of the Ceremony
  
• Swearing-In Ceremony, with admission motioned for by a member of Judicial Division leadership
• Reserved seats at oral arguments
• Lunch at the Supreme Court following the Ceremony and arguments
• A lecture in the Courtroom of the U.S. Supreme Court following the Ceremony and arguments
• A no-host group dinner the evening before the Ceremony, with Judicial Division and Lawyers Conference leadership

Rates for the 2023 Program were as follows:

        $350  | Judicial Division members
        $400 | ABA members
        $450  | non-ABA members

Program Rates include the $200 admission fee for the Supreme Court, which will be sent on your behalf to the Court. 

Supreme Court Bar Admission Criteria

To be admitted to the Supreme Court Bar, you must*:

1. have been admitted to practice to the highest court of a State, Territory or the District of Columbia for at least three years prior to the date of the application; 
2. not have received any adverse disciplinary action or pronouncement in effect during that three-year period; 
3. be of good moral and professional character.

You must also have two sponsors that are members of the Bar of the U.S. Supreme Court who know you personally and are not related to you by blood or marriage.

*Participation in the Small Group Admissions Program does not guarantee Bar Admission. Please make sure you meet the above criteria from the U.S. Supreme Court.

Program Application Instructions

1. Register to reserve your spot in the group.  You must be able to be in D.C. on the date of the Ceremony.  
2. Fill out the Bar Admission Application found at  www.supremecourt.gov/bar/barapplication.pdf.  Participants will need to have their own sponsors for the Bar Admission Application, and both sponsor signatures must be original, wet ink signatures on the same page.  Please do not fill out the final section on page 2, “written motion for admission,” as you will be admitted on verbal motion in an open court. 
3. Obtain a Certificate of Good Standing from the presiding judge, clerk, or other authorized official of the highest court of a State, Commonwealth, Territory or Possession, or of the District of Columbia, evidencing the fact that you have been a member of the Bar of such court for at least three years and are in good standing.  
4. Mail the application and certificate to Danielle Norwood, who will forward it to the Court on your behalf with the group's compiled applications.

Staff Contact Information   

Danielle Norwood
Program Specialist, ABA Judicial Division
312.988.5122
[email protected]
321 N. Clark St., Floor 18, Chicago, IL 60654

Program Participants may contact Danielle with questions about their application and materials.