The Red Mass, a long-standing tradition marking the start of the U.S. Supreme Court’s term, brings judges, lawyers and public officials together at Washington’s St. Matthew’s Cathedral to pray for wisdom and moral clarity in the administration of justice.

Since the 1950s, this ecumenical service — welcoming for people of all faiths and belief systems — has been a sort of opening ceremony attended by many Supreme Court justices.

This year none of them attended due to security concerns.

A man allegedly carrying a Molotov cocktail was arrested outside St. Matthew’s Cathedral, police said Sunday, underscoring the heightened security concerns surrounding the court in today’s polarized climate.

Late last week, a 29-year-old was sentenced to more than eight years in prison for attempting to a

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