In 1932, a small group of officers from the United States Capitol Police were selected to protect the construction site of the new Supreme Court Building. Prior to construction, the Supreme Court was located in the United States Capitol Building. Upon completion of the Supreme Court Building, Congress authorized a separate Supreme Court Police Force.

Established in 1935, the Supreme Court of the United States Police were tasked to provide protection for the recently completed Supreme Court Building, the Justices, employees, guests and visitors.

The original force of 33 officers, led by Captain Philip H. Crook, were selected from the ranks of the United States Capitol Police Force. In order to give the force jurisdiction beyond the Supreme Court, the officers were commissioned as Special Police Officers by the District of Columbia. The power of arrest came with the appointment. Each officer was paid a salary of $1,350 per annum out of the appropriation for the construction of the building.

In 1935, the Officer position was known as a guard. Guards were hired by the Marshal of the Court and approved by the Chief Justice of the United States.

Between 1935 and 1941 (exact date unknown), the force became known as the Supreme Court Police.

On June 6, 1949, Federal legislation was passed allowing the Marshal of the Supreme Court, under direction of the Chief Justice, to designate employees as Special Policemen. Per Congress, this provided legal status to the Supreme Court Police to enforce the laws in the Supreme Court building and on its grounds. The legislation was patterned after the 1946 act authorizing the creation of the Capitol Police Force.

In 1955, the force still had only 33 officers, but was being transformed into a more professionally trained unit through a series of training courses; to include: firearms training, first aid, civil defense training and lectures on legal problems related to law enforcement.

In 1963, the Supreme Court Police hired its first female officer, Lyle T. Evanoff.

In 1982, Chief Justice Warren E. Burger requested that Congress pass legislation to clarify the status of the Supreme Court Police. As of 1982, legislation was passed that formalized the status of the Supreme Court Police as Federal Law Enforcement Officers.

On December 21, 2000, legislation was passed that granted Federal Law Enforcement Retirement to the Supreme Court Police.

Since 1935, Supreme Court Police Officers have worn their own distinctive badge, with a design inspired by those worn by the Metropolitan D.C. and United States Capitol Police Departments.

Several elements of the Supreme Court Police uniform distinguish officers from other local and federal departments. Periodically over the Force’s history, these elements have been redesigned.

The Supreme Court Police have worn White Uniform Shirts, with Blue Pants and Gold Badges since October 7, 1963. The new style of uniforms corresponded to the official dress, at that time, of the White House Police, now known as the United States Secret Service. Prior to this date, the police attire was Gray Uniform Shirts, Blue Pants and Silver Badges.