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9th Circuit Court of Appeals: Watch Historic Oral Arguments | SoMa

The James R. Browning U.S. Courthouse, a National Historic Landmark, is located at the corner of Seventh and Mission Streets in San Francisco. The public entrance is 95 Seventh Street. Opened in 1905, this is considered one of America’s most beautiful public buildings.

Watch Oral Arguments

Today, it is the headquarters for the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, which hears appeals from lower court decisions in the federal courts of nine Western states. Court of Appeals oral argument hearings are held for one week of each month, and the public may attend.

Cases are typically 10-20 minutes and run from 9am to 10am but sometimes start later in the day. For more information, or to see the court’s calendar of oral arguments, check the website. Please note everything is subject to change and certain cases might not be open to the public.

2017 Oral Arguments Schedule

Free Public Tours

The court also offers free docent-led public tours of the historic courthouse on the Tuesdays listed below. The tours begin at 1 p.m. and last approximately 60 minutes. The tours include visiting the old post office lobby on the first floor, and available courtrooms.

  • No reservations are required for individuals to join the public tour.
  • Enter the building and meet the tour guide in the lobby.
  • Each adult entering the building needs to pass through security screening and bring a photo ID.

2017 Public Tour Schedule
Many Tuesdays at 1pm

January 3
January 24
February 7
February 21
March 7
March 28
April 11
April 25
May 9
May 23
June  6
June 20
June 27
July 18
August 1
August 22
September 5
September 26
October 3
October 24
November 7
November 22
December 5
December 19


Event Details