“Non-scaleable” fencing was erected around the Supreme Court late on Wednesday night after another night of protests over the leaked draft decision to overturn Roe v Wade.
Workers erected the 8 foot (2.4m) tall metal barriers around the building, just across the street from the US Capitol in central Washington DC, as city police brace for further unrest.
The fencing replaced smaller bike racks that had been in place earlier in the evening.
Police officers told NBC News the fencing was similar to the barriers erected around the US Capitol building after the 6 January riots.
Protesters have gathered at the courthouse each night since Justice Samuel Alito’s draft memo revealing that the court could overturn the landmark Roe v Wade case law was published by Politico on Monday evening.
Chief Justice John Roberts confirmed the document’s authenticity on Tuesday.
Protests have been held in cities throughout the US this week. In downtown Los Angeles, one police officer was injured when police clashed with demonstrators on Tuesday night.
Videos posted to social media showed chaotic scenes as an officer tackled a protester, and others beat the crowd back with batons.
Abortion rights supporters have also gathered in mostly peaceful protests in San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, Boston, Sacramento and Denver.
Reuters reported Justice Alito cancelled a planned public appearance at the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals’ judicial conference on Thursday.
A spokesperson for the Supreme Court confirmed he would not be attending.
A final ruling on whether the landmark abortion decision is not expected to be released until July.
