Tony Harriman   Alabama -- 2004-03-03

I'm wondering if anybody knows who the people are that are carved into the top of the entrance to the Supreme Court Building.

Myqel   Michigan -- 2004-04-07

Reclining on the far left is Chief Justice William Howard Taft, representing Research Present. He is portrayed as a student at Yale University, and is facing an English crown, a Pope’s miter and a Bishop’s crosier.
Second from left is former Senator Elihu Root, who introduced President Taft’s bill to create Washington’s Fine Arts Commission.
Third from left is the architect of the Supreme Court building, Cass Gilbert.
The three central figures are Authority, Liberty Enthroned and Order.
Third from the right is Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes, who succeeded Taft as Chief Justice as well as Chairman of the Supreme Court Building Commission.
Second from right is Robert Aitken, sculptor of the figures.
At the far right is John Marshall, Chief Justice of the United States from 1801 to 1835, representing Research Past. He is holding Roman scrolls, and is gazing at an urn, mosaic tables and an oil lamp, that rest at his feet.
http://bensguide.gpo.gov/3-5/symbols/supreme_court.html