Subject matter of copyright: United States Government works
Copyright protection under this title is not available for any work of the United States Government...
17 U.S.C. § 105 (2011).
A "work of the United States Government" is a work prepared by an officer or employee of the United States Government as part of that person’s official duties.
17 U.S.C. § 101.
It may be proper to remark that the court are unanimously of opinion, that no reporter has or can have any copyright in the written opinions delivered by this court; and that the judges thereof cannot confer on any reporter any such right.
Wheaton v. Peters, 33 U.S. 668 (1834).