When architects, court agencies and users collaborate to design courthouses, safety and security are paramount in their objectives. One of the most well-known cases of courthouse violence took place in March 2005 in the Fulton County Courthouse in Atlanta, Ga., when Brian Gene Nichols escaped from custody and murdered the judge presiding over his trial, a court reporter, a … [Read more...] about THE ARCHITECT’S RECIPE FOR COURTHOUSE SECURITY
Monuments of Justice
Monuments of Justice: Panola County Courthouse
County Seat: Carthage * County Population: 22,989
The Panola County Courthouse was built in 1953 in a Modern style as designed by Preston M. Geren. The original county seat was Pulaski located some 15 miles east of Carthage, the current county capitol, on the Sabine River. In her book "The Texas Courthouse Revisited," June Rayfield Welch describes the theatrics surrounding the transition: Pulaski was not as centrally located … [Read more...] about Monuments of Justice: Panola County Courthouse
Monuments of Justice: Garza County Courthouse
County Seat: Post * County Population: 4,877
The Garza County Courthouse was built in 1923 in a Texas Renaissance style as designed by C.A. Carlander. The county was named for an early Texas pioneer family. June Rayfield Welch, author of "The Texas Courthouse Revisited," described the founding of the county seat, Post, as follows: Charles W. Post's decision to found a town stimulated activity. The breakfast cereal king … [Read more...] about Monuments of Justice: Garza County Courthouse
Courthouse Preservation Program Receives $20 Million
The Texas Historical Commission (THC) received $20 million from the 81st Texas Legislature for Round VI of the Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program, which provides partial matching grants to Texas counties for the restoration of their historic county courthouses. Since its inception, the program has awarded $207 million to counties throughout Texas. To date more than … [Read more...] about Courthouse Preservation Program Receives $20 Million
Monutments of Justice: Wichita County Courthouse
County Seat: Wichita * County Population: 101,852
The current Wichita County Courthouse was erected in 1916 and later remodeled with "an original courtroom charmingly ensconced on the fourth floor," as described in "The Courthouses of Texas" by Mavis P. Kelsey Sr. and Donald H. Byal. Wichita County was created in 1858 and attached to Clay County for judicial purposes. Some two years later, a petition was presented complete … [Read more...] about Monutments of Justice: Wichita County Courthouse