On October 31, 2005, during oral arguments in the case of Central Virginia Community College v. Katz, 546 U.S. 356 (2006), a light bulb blew out and made a gunshot-like sound. A lively exchange among the Justices ensued, according to the transcript of the oral arguments on Oyez, Chicago-Kent’s free law project that makes the US Supreme Court accessible to everyone. Oyez, which is available in Brooklyn Law School’s SARA Catalog, has transcript-synchronized and searchable audio, plain-English case summaries, illustrated decision information, and opinions. It also provides detailed information on every justice throughout history and offers a panoramic tour of the Supreme Court building, including the chambers of several justices.
The spirited exchange that afternoon was the only time a sitting US Supreme Court Justice said “Happy Halloween” from the bench. The comments from the transcript are below:
SANDRA DAY O’CONNOR
A light bulb exploded.
JOHN G. ROBERTS, JR.
I think we’re… I think it’s safe.
STEPHEN G. BREYER
A light bulb went out.
JOHN G. ROBERTS, JR.
It’s a trick they play on new Chief Justices all the time.
[Laughter]
ANTONIN SCALIA
Happy Halloween.
John G. Roberts, Jr.
We’re even… yeah, we’re even more in the dark now than before.
Hat Tip to Victoria Sutton author of Halloween Law: A Spirited Look at the Law School Curriculum.
