Egypt's Supreme Constitutional Court suspended its work indefinitely in response to protests and pressure from supporters of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi.

Thousands of pro-Morsi demonstrators prevented the judges from entering the courthouse on Sunday to rule on the constitutional assembly.

The justices called Sunday "the Egyptian judiciary's blackest day on record," noting demonstrators denounced the tribunal and some of its judges.

The protests came hours after the court postponed a ruling on the legitimacy of an Islamist-dominated panel that drafted a new constitution last week minus the participation of secular and Christian members.

Some Morsi supporters claim the decision by the court to postpone its ruling was a show of support for the Egyptian president.

A ruling from the court would be a direct challenge to Morsi, who granted himself absolute power and immunity from the courts.

An estimated 200,000 Egyptians opposed to Morsi's power grab held rallies in Cairo last week and say they plan to march on the presidential palace Tuesday.

Morsi's supporters responded with a rally Saturday attended by about 100,000 residents.

With its distinctively Islamic leaning, the draft constitution has many concerned about the direction Morsi is leading the country.