WASHINGTON (AP) — Even Supreme Court justices forget to turn off their cellphones.
A high court argument last Tuesday was interrupted by the familiar sound of a ring chime, and Justice Stephen Breyer was the culprit.
A mildly embarrassed Breyer quickly appeared to reach down to turn it off as a majority of his colleagues on the bench broke into smiles.
Justice Samuel Alito struggled to suppress a laugh.
Cellphones and other electronic devices are strictly forbidden in the ornate courtroom — a rule that includes observers and lawyers arguing before the court, but apparently not
the justices themselves.
Breyer and fellow Justice Clarence Thomas shared a quick laugh about the incident.
But it didn’t fluster lawyer Neal Katyal, who was in the middle of answering a question.
Supreme Court spokeswoman Kathy Arberg later called the incident an “oversight” and said Breyer doesn’t usually take his phone into the courtroom.
- Posted May 01, 2017
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Justice Breyer's phone rings in court
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