William Hennessy, Jr., a prolific courtroom artist, dies aged 67
IN MEMORY
William Hennessy, Jr., a classically trained artist and SCOTUSblog contributor who chronicled oral arguments at the Supreme Court and legal proceedings around the country for decades, died on Tuesday. Scott McFarlane reported on X about an announcement made by Hennessy’s family. McFarlane was a CBS News reporter who profiled Hennessy in the past. Hennessy was 67 on Tuesday.
Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar defending the Biden administration’s opposition to an Idaho abortion restriction in April. William Hennessy
Hennessy told McFarlane he was still a student when he answered an advertisement for a courtroom artist. He had a Rhode Island School of Design degree. He said that he “jumped at it” because he needed to support his family, but he was quickly hooked on the work and its tight deadlines.
Over decades spent as a sketch artist, Hennessy captured historic moments and landmark cases at the Supreme Court, where photography and video cameras are not allowed. Hennessy’s sketches are available on his website. They include close-ups such as Chief Justice Warren Burger who served from 1969 to 1986, the Dec.2000 argument in Bush v. Gore and the 2005 investiture for the current chief justice John Roberts. (William Hennessy)
While Hennessy’s work at the Supreme Court primarily focused on the central drama on the bench, his also used his sketches to highlight important visitors in the courtroom, such as Norma Anderson – the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit seeking to disqualify then-former President Donald Trump from the Colorado ballot because of his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attacks on the U.S. Capitol.
Norma Anderson, one of the Colorado voters who sued Donald Trump in 2023, in the courtroom. (William Hennessy)
Without cameras in federal courts, Hennessy’s work was how many Americans saw how historic cases unfolded behind closed courtroom doors. He covered high-profile legal proceedings and trials at all levels, from the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump down to Hunter Biden’s trial in Delaware on federal gun charges. Hennessy was criticized for his sketches, which some thought were too flattering. Hennessy said that he didn’t “editorialize.” I just draw what i see.
