The Ruins of an Empire, Part I

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A chunk of marble fell from near the roof of the U.S. Supreme Court onto the stairs in the front of the building but no one was injured, a court spokeswoman said.

Spokeswoman Kathy Arberg said the marble, from what was believed to be dentil molding at the top of the building, fell at midmorning, about a half hour before the court was to open. There was no one on the stairs at the time.

The marble was right above the inscription near the top of the building saying, "Equal Justice under Law."