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Supreme Court Convenes In Philadelphia

1791

The U.S. Supreme Court joins Congress and the president in Philadelphia, convening for two days in Independence Hall for its February term. In August, the Court moves to Old City Hall, where it will continue to meet for the next 10 years. Under the Judiciary Act of 1789, the justices were required to ride the circuits to hear cases and preside over the circuit courts, a policy that the justices considered unnecessary and highly exhausting.