Death and state funeral of Robert Jacobs

On December 26, 2021, Robert Jacobs, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, died from complications of Alzheimer's disease at the age of 87. Jacobs was the first associate justice to die in office after the Capitol Bombing. His death received immediate public attention. The evening of his death, Chief Justice Peter Koemann held a vigil outside of the Supreme Court building.

Due to the unique falling of Jacobs' death, his state funeral was held from December 29, 2021 to January 3, 2022. Jacobs lay in repose on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court building from December 29 through the morning of December 31. His casket was transported across the street to the United States Capitol and was escorted into the Rotunda by a full United States Armed Forces honor guard. From December 30 through January 3, 2022, Jacobs lay in state. His public funeral was held on the morning of January 3 at Washington National Cathedral.

## Health and death

Jacobs had previously been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in December 2020. In early 2021, he informed U.S. President Tom Kirkman of the diagnosis and expressed his desire to remain on the Supreme Court until he was unable to continue his service. Throughout 2021, the disease did not affect his judgement on the bench and he maintained his cognitive ability. The disease took a turn, however, that December, when Jacobs began to lose his mental capacity rather quickly. Within weeks, he could not remember himself or his seat on the Court. Jacobs died from complications of Alzheimer's disease at his home in Washington, D.C., on December 26, 2021, aged 87. He was surrounded by family and friends after they celebrated Christmas hours earlier.

## Vigils

Shortly after his death was announced, hundreds of mourners began gathering in front of the Supreme Court Building. A candle light prayer service was held and American patriotic songs were recited. Other gatherings occurred concurrently across the United States. By the following morning, a memorial had been created on the steps of the court.

Jacobs' final wish was for any tributes to remain nonpartisan. On December 27, the memorial created was removed as plans for his state funeral were set into place. A nationally-sponsored vigil was held that evening with thousands gathered. The crowd was made up of individuals from both sides of the political and ideological spectrum mourning Jacobs' death as an icon of centrist judicial rulings. Among the speakers that night were Chief Justice Peter Koemann, Senators Willard Erickson (D-OR) and Henry Mitchell (R-TN), and Senate Minority Leader Diane Hunter.

## Memorials and tributes

Pursuant to tradition since the death of Chief Justice Salmon P. Chase in 1873, the doors to the courtroom of the Supreme Court and Jacobs' seat were draped in black. U.S. President Tom Kirkman ordered all American flags in the United States and at diplomatic state buildings around the world to be lowered to half-staff until Jacobs was buried. As the Supreme Court Building is part of the United States Capitol complex, House speaker Margaret Clay ordered all flags to be lowered at half-staff in honor of Jacobs.

Legislation was proposed in the United States House of Representatives for a bust of Jacobs to be created and installed in the Capitol. Several U.S. mayors across the country issued proclamations declaring December 29, the first day of his state funeral, to be "Robert Jacobs Day."

## Reactions

### United States

Jacobs was praised by political and judicial figures from across the political and ideological spectrum. He was hailed as a trailblazer of centrist judicial policy and rulings and as a historic jurist in American history.

His death was announced while U.S. President Tom Kirkman was seconds from landing in Washington, D.C. on Air Force One after a trip. When he was disembarking from the aircraft, Kirkman was informed by reporters of Jacobs' death by reporters. On hearing of his death for the first time, Kirkman informally responded with a statement praising Jacobs as "an extraordinary historical and monumental judicial figure who led a remarkable life and a judicial life of ensuring equal justice." Kirkman added that he was "very saddened to hear the news" before he continued and boarded Marine One. His informal response quickly went viral. Shortly after arriving back at the White House, Kirkman signed a presidential proclamation and issued a separate formal statement on Jacobs' death.

Numerous members of Congress from both the House and Senate, including all members of leadership, responded to Jacobs' death. Among those that issued formal responses were Speaker Margaret Clay and President pro tempore Cameron Feller. Various other celebrities and activists responded to his death by praising his life of public service.

### International

Several international heads of state and heads of government responded to Jacobs' death in the hours after it was announced, including British Prime Minister Aruna Mahajan, French President Jacques Mainard, Canadian Prime Minister Robert Bowman, and German Chancellor Jonas Grottke, among others, all of whom praised the late justice and issued formal condolences to family, friends, and the American people. Multiple diplomatic ambassadors from various nations to the United States also responded to Jacobs' death.

## Funeral services

### Supreme Court Building

Due to the unique falling of Jacobs' death, his official state funeral was held from December 29, 2021, to January 3, 2022. Jacobs lay in respose for the two days on December 29 to 30 at the Supreme Court Building. His American flag-draped casket stood at the top of the stairs leading to the building for public viewing. An honor guard of Supreme Court Police officers guarded the casket constantly for the two full days it lay in repose at the building. Public viewing was available on December 29 and 30 from 7 am to 11 pm. Visitors were permitted to see the casket during overnight hours but no speakers or visitors were present.

Jacobs' state funeral officially began shortly before 7 am on December 29, 2021 when his casket arrived at the Supreme Court. More than one hundred of her law clerks during his time as an appellate judge and Supreme Court justice lined the steps. Eight Supreme Court clerks acted as pallbearers and carried Jacobs' casket up the steps of the building. It was brought inside to the Grand Hall for a private prayer service attended by other justices of the court, along with family and friends. After the hour-long service, eight officers of the Supreme Court Police carried the casket outside onto the steps of the building and placed it onto the famous catafalque first used for the funeral of Abraham Lincoln which had held the caskets of nearly every U.S. president since, as well as several lawmakers. At around 8 am, when Jacobs' flag-draped casket emerged from the Supreme Court, it was met with cheers and applause from thousands watching below to honor him.

Over the next two days, thousands passed through the line to pay their respects to Jacobs, hundreds at a time. Several public officials also paid their respects. Over two hundred incumbent members of Congress paid their respects over the course of the two days the casket lay in repose. On the first day, House speaker Margaret Clay and her husband, as well as Vice President Benjamin Asher and Second Lady Margaret Asher appeared on the steps of the Supreme Court Building behind the casket to pay their respects. On December 30, shortly before 10 am, U.S. President Tom Kirkman appeared alone behind the casket to pay his respects to one of his first nine Supreme Court appointments.

### Capitol Building

Jacobs lay in state at the United States Capitol from December 31 to January 3, 2022, when his public funeral mass took place after the new year. On the morning of December 31, Jacobs' casket was transported by a hearse from the Supreme Court across the street to the Capitol Building. The hearse briefly paused in front of the Supreme Court before it continued to the Capitol Building.

Shortly after 9 am, an honor guard of eight Supreme Court Police officers carried Jacobs' casket from the top of the Supreme Court steps to a hearse waiting below. The casket was loaded onto the hearse and it began traveling shortly after. The hearse briefly paused in front of the Supreme Court Building before it continued to the Capitol, commemorating Jacobs' last departure from the court. Not long before 10 am, the hearse arrived in front of the Capitol Building. A full-honors United States Armed Forces honor guard carried the casket from the hearse up the steps of the Capitol and into National Statuary Hall. After the casket was again placed on the Lincoln catafalque, the military honor guard was replaced by a United States Capitol Police honor guard, which stood at the casket's four corners. U.S. President Tom Kirkman opened the ceremony by placing a wreath in front of the casket before he delievered his remarks honoring Jacobs. The ceremony concluded with congressional leadership approaching the casket to pay their respects. Hundreds of members of Congress passed by the casket to pay their respects over the course of the day before traveling home for New Year's Eve.

On the morning of January 3, 2022, a formal calling hours was held in the Capitol Building for Jacobs from 7 to 10 am. Shortly after 10 am, the United States Armed Forces honor guard carried the casket down the steps of the Capitol to a hearse waiting below. The hearse then transported the casket from the Capitol to Washington National Cathedral.

### Washington National Cathedral and burial

Shortly before 11 am, Jacobs' casket arrived at Washington National Cathedral. The private funeral broadcast on television was attended by over 2,000 public officials, including President Tom Kirkman, Vice President Benjamin Asher, members of Congress and the Supreme Court, former presidents, vice presidents, and lawmakers, various diplomats and other invited guests, along with family and friends. Among others, Kirkman delivered a eulogy. After the ceremony concluded, the casket was transported from the Cathedral to Arlington National Cemetery for interment. A private burial service was held, attended only by invited family and close friends. Jacobs was subsequently buried in a military service.