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The 2026 film Mercy presents a disturbing vision of the courtroom of the future. Chris Pratt plays an LAPD detective who awakens strapped to an
Walk through almost any courthouse on a weekday afternoon and you’ll notice something odd. Some courtrooms are packed, with attorneys waiting in the
In last week’s blog, we looked at the courthouse’s edge: setbacks, barriers, and ways to protect a building without making it feel like a fortress.
I recently participated in the design of a new courthouse with a security consultant on the project team. As an architect specializing in courthouse
Courts do not have to imagine the consequences of a major cyberattack. In September 2026, Thomson Reuters disclosed that an unauthorized party had
A key feature of our justice system is that courthouses are public spaces and most court proceedings are open to the public. These buildings are
A high-profile trial can quickly change the demands placed on a courthouse. The building must continue supporting its normal operations while
Several years ago, I was interviewing court stakeholders as part of a courthouse planning study. A judge mentioned that an interesting trial was
Court filings are declining in many jurisdictions. Does that mean future courthouses will need fewer courtrooms? Not necessarily. In my recent blog,
Courtroom utilization analysis can reveal opportunities to reduce construction costs, rightsize courtrooms, and better align courthouse space with
For decades, one of the most common assumptions in courthouse planning has been that every judge requires a dedicated courtroom. While this approach
Ask someone to picture a courthouse, and they'll almost always describe the courtroom. They'll picture a judge on the bench, attorneys presenting
The court reporter has been one of the most quietly essential figures in the courtroom. Seated between the judge's bench and the witness stand, they
I was recently sitting in a courthouse planning meeting reviewing demographic and economic data with county officials. The trends were interesting.
One of the most important questions in courthouse planning is also one of the most difficult to answer: How many courtrooms should a courthouse
Before anyone speaks in a courtroom, the building has already said something. From the height of the ceiling to the absence of daylight in the
If you talk to judges, court administrators, or attorneys around the country, you’ll hear a common observation: court filings just aren’t what they
It is a familiar scene in many older courthouses. Just outside a courtroom door, an attorney leans in close to a client, speaking in hushed tones
Courthouse design begins with a disciplined process of listening, testing assumptions, and aligning stakeholders around how the building must
As fans of the iconic Yellowstone television franchise can attest, the difficult topic of child trafficking was front and center in a recent two-part
It started with a contradiction. Over the past two decades, one fast-growing county where we were engaged to perform court planning had added tens of
Across the United States, courthouse construction doesn’t always align with long-term needs. Some jurisdictions build facilities with more space than
Courthouses are commonly associated with formal legal proceedings, complex legal language, and critical decisions. Nevertheless, for many
Designing and operating a courthouse requires more than courtrooms and chambers—it demands a carefully choreographed security strategy. One of the
Vibrant ceramic panels catching natural light in a double-height lobby. Monumental sculptural forms standing quietly in a civic plaza. Rotating
A person arrives at the courthouse early, having taken unpaid time off for a hearing expected to be brief. As the morning unfolds, small delays
Parking is one of the most common—and most contentious—issues raised during courthouse planning. Judges, jurors, staff, and the public experience
Before a courthouse becomes a symbol or a skyline feature, it is first experienced as a place. As human geographer Yi-Fu Tuan observed, space becomes
Imagine a statewide courthouse portfolio spanning dozens of facilities including urban courthouses operating at or beyond capacity, smaller rural
As a court planner, I always pause when beginning a project with a new architectural firm. One of the first questions is whether we’ll be able to
I recently attended a gala at the historic Surrogate’s Court in New York City—a stunning Beaux-Arts landmark that, for an evening, transformed from a
When visitors walk into a new courthouse, they often notice the grand lobby, the flood of natural light, or the sense of civic dignity that the
The U.S. fertility rate—the average number of children born per woman—hit an all-time low of 1.6 in 2024, far below the replacement rate of 2.1. The
Not long ago, I was presenting to a Board of Commissioners about the need for a new courthouse. After the presentation, one of the commissioners
Designing a courthouse is more than just selecting materials and layouts — it’s about shaping the physical framework of justice itself. Every square
Courthouses are evolving to meet the demands of modern justice systems, community needs, and technological advancements. No longer defined by rigid
Over the past decade, the space requirements of probation offices have changed dramatically. Traditionally located within or near courthouses, these
Courthouses have always symbolized justice, stability, and authority. But the justice system itself is constantly adapting and changing. Case volumes
The construction of a new courthouse isn’t cheap. Depending on the size of the city or county, costs can range from tens of millions to hundreds of
Several years ago, I participated in a courthouse planning session with another firm. The project lead was highly skilled—thorough in her research,
As the justice system evolves to meet the demands of a rapidly changing world, so too must the buildings that house it. The concept of a "smart
Service animals are becoming increasingly common in various public settings, including courthouses, where they assist individuals with disabilities
A courthouse is more than a place to hold hearings—it’s a symbol of justice and public trust. However, when a building is poorly maintained, the
As a court planner, one of my primary responsibilities is guiding stakeholders in making strategic decisions that align with current operational
Courtroom utilization studies are becoming an essential tool in planning courthouse facilities. These studies assess how courtrooms are used,
Court planning firms and architectural firms bring distinct yet sometimes overlapping expertise to courthouse projects. If your courthouse is facing
Courthouse planning is a complex undertaking that demands careful consideration of multiple factors to ensure functionality, efficiency, and
I’ve previously written about evictions and their rise following the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2022) as federal, state, and local eviction
Courthouses face unique safety and security challenges due to their high-profile nature and the sensitive proceedings that take place within them. A
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly changed the judicial system and courthouse planning. Court administrators often ask which operational changes
The criminal justice system has historically been punitive, primarily focusing on holding offenders accountable for their crimes. However, there is
Courthouse design is more than architectural aesthetics or functional layouts—it plays a powerful role in shaping the experiences of those who enter,
A domestic abuse survivor enters the courthouse and immediately feels overwhelmed by the harsh fluorescent lighting and echoing corridors. The
During a recent project team meeting, the topic of Conway’s Law was raised. Despite the wealth of useless trivia rattling around in my brain, I had
Courthouses are more than just buildings where legal proceedings take place; they play a pivotal role in urban planning. Courthouse design and
While it might not be a hot topic like security or a constant discussion such as those involving courtroom layouts, the condition of a courthouse can
As a guilty pleasure, I have been watching the HBO documentary “Chimp Crazy.” It is a four-part series that documents chimpanzees in captivity. While
As a court planner, I have worked with courts that have pursued legal action against counties because the court was not being provided adequate
A recent podcast in the National Association for Court Management’s “Court Leader’s Advantage” series highlights a potentially alarming trend—court
As a court planner, I’ve visited many courthouses that are relics from a prior era that no longer meet the court's needs today. I’ve also toured a
We often find challenges in courthouse planning due to a lack of space for courtrooms, offices, waiting areas, and support services. Inefficient
As a court planner, I am frequently involved in the initial planning stages of new courthouses. Clients often respond that incorporating daylighting
About two years ago, I wrote in this space about the limitations of remote court proceedings. A couple of recent experiences in court planning helped
I recently read an interesting statistic that astounded me—the economic output of just six southern states surpassed that of the entire Northeast.
Since I’ve worked as a courthouse planner for most of my career, the concept of universal design has been drilled into me. Universal design is the
As a court planner, I am frequently faced with helping clients understand whether or not their historic courthouse is a viable long-term housing
As a court planner, one of the most common questions I have been asked since the pandemic is, “What best practices are being implemented in
Fentress has assessed over 1,200 court facilities throughout the U.S., and with that experience comes much knowledge and data. This data can be
I have to acknowledge a struggle I have been dealing with for the last two years as a court planner. Will courts embrace the technologies that arose
Over 35 years, we have helped courts and architects plan courthouse space needs in 1,212 court facilities. We have had the opportunity to work on
The term courtroom utilization is not common. A Google search of the term will yield very few mentions or papers and many of the limited results have
Grand juries convene in specialized suites within courthouses to hear and review evidence of alleged criminal conduct to determine if an indictment
As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly integrated into various aspects of our lives, the complexities related to the technology are
Courthouse planning involves analyzing a courthouse to make critical decisions about how best to use the space. A court planning consultant should be
“Stroke of the pen. Law of the Land. Kinda cool.” That’s how Paul Begala, advisor to President Bill Clinton in the late 1990s, described the
As a court planner for many years, I have witnessed numerous trends, including increased security, new courtroom technology, the evolution of
We perform assessments to determine if the space in a courthouse supports the administration of justice. This is not a facility condition assessment
A courthouse plays a crucial role in upholding justice and maintaining law and order in our society. It is a bustling environment where individuals
Over the past few decades, problem-solving courts (specialty and treatment courts) have become increasingly popular nationwide. According to a paper
Prioritization is deciding the relative importance or urgency of a list of items or tasks. For years, I have worked with courthouse data to perform
As a court planner, I often must explain my programming approach when determining the size of a courthouse. Courthouses are inefficient buildings,
I have noticed an upward trend in the number of cities and towns attempting to combine their court systems into one courthouse. Courts often do so
I have worked with courthouse data for years to perform statistical analysis and develop planning tools and business processes. This includes data on
As court operations are approaching a new normal, many court administrators and judges face questions about future space usage. Will virtual hearings
Evictions are rising across the country. Beginning in March 2020, a patchwork of federal, state, and local eviction moratoriums were enacted as a
“Oh no, not jury duty!” exclaims the frazzled parent of two toddlers, the plumber with a calendar full of appointments and kids in college, or the
The public can find courthouses to be an intimidating experience. Visitors to a courthouse are often there to support a family member, be a witness
In a previous blog, I discussed the importance of establishing the architect and owner’s roles and responsibilities during the space programming
In my last blog, I talked about strategies that contribute to a successful courthouse planning effort. These strategies include conducting client
As we approach the end of the year, businesses and organizations continue to address post-COVID questions and challenges. For example, what will the
The notion of a hybrid courthouse stems from the trend brought about by the COVID pandemic to design spaces that accommodate both in-person and
Planners support architects by quantifying the court’s space needs in a way that justifies the architectural conclusions. While it may be tempting to
I recently had an experience that seems pretty common this summer: sitting in an airport during a flight delay, wondering when - or if - I’d reach my
Since the beginning of the pandemic, there has been plenty of discussion within the courthouse planning community about the way remote proceedings
“FOOD FIGHT!!” shouts Bluto Blutarsky, seconds before cafeteria mayhem ensues in the iconic 1970s comedy “Animal House.” More images of chaos from
State-level results from the United States 2020 Census were released late last year and the results were striking: America is getting older, fast.
In 2015, a former colleague of mine wrote a blog about the importance of courthouses to the vibrancy of the surrounding areas in which they are
Since the onslaught of the pandemic, courts have struggled to understand its impact on modern courthouse planning. Because we are court planners, in
Our court planning work is split between serving local courts and federal courts. It has been interesting to be involved with the different
It is always an exciting day when the doors of a new courthouse open. There is a feeling of accomplishment in seeing the shared vision come together,
Over a year and a half into the pandemic, we have seen a lot of change in courthouses and the operations of the components that comprise the judicial
If you are planning a new courthouse, inevitably the discussion will turn to where you should provide dedicated parking for judges, law enforcement,
As aspects of our professional and personal lives begin approaching a new “normal,” many court managers and judges are facing questions about future
Courtroom sharing is a sensitive topic for many courts. Although some courts have implemented courtroom sharing practices, many remain resistant to
If nothing else, 2020 has been a year that has required great flexibility. We have seen many industries adapt to restrictions brought on by the
As a courthouse planner, one of the most striking aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic for me has been the unfortunate need for courts nationwide to
I was recently working on a space needs assessment for a new courthouse. The team had really gelled and we had made great progress on determining the
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, most courthouses have been closed to the public, with only the most urgent proceedings being held in the
The judicial system has a unique mission – to administer justice fairly and efficiently. Achieving this mission during a global pandemic comes with a
The judicial system has a unique mission – to administer justice fairly and efficiently. Achieving this mission during an emergency comes with a
I was recently involved in an exciting analysis for a court jurisdiction with multiple courthouses spread across a sizable geographic area. Our goal
For over 20 years, I’ve participated in planning sessions with government agencies (mostly court planning) as an analyst and facilitator. While each
Court planning firms and architectural firms have unique and sometimes overlapping skill sets. If your courthouse is out of space, suffers from
Courts do not generate their own workload - they respond to other organizations and the public. For example, on the criminal side, a court is a
The use of collegial judges’ chambers is a developing trend in courthouse design. A collegial chambers arrangement is where two or more judges’
In my role as a court planner, I have traveled across the country to dozens of courts to learn about trends that are impacting court workload. During
Have you considered undertaking a comprehensive courthouse planning exercise to take a deep dive into external factors that may impact your court? Do
Do you believe your court could benefit from a planning effort that sets a vision for the future? Have you undertaken planning exercises that seemed
Multi-defendant criminal court proceedings are a frequent occurrence in some court jurisdictions and may become increasingly prevalent due to gang or
A much greater number of people serve on juries than participate in the judicial system as plaintiffs, defendants, or attorneys. It is therefore
We have all been absorbed at one time or another by the drama that takes place inside a courthouse. “To Kill a Mockingbird”, “Perry Mason”, “LA Law,”
Just walking through a courthouse can be a stressful experience for a visitor. Whether being called as a witness or to serve on a jury, or just
What are the odds that two court planning consultants, each with over 20 years experience in the same small company, had NEVER been called for jury
The current public image of the courthouse is evolving from an imposing, awe-inspiring, and even intimidating symbol to one that is welcoming and
My first experience with a courthouse was not good. In fact, it was terrifying and the memory has remained with me to this day. And it began on the
Great news! Discussions are underway regarding finally building a new courthouse. It has taken years to get to this point. Now, to get started, the
The design of every building is a puzzle. Courthouses are no exception. All the pieces need to fit in a way that make sense and that help guide us
The role of a courthouse circulation system is both to connect courthouse components and to separate the movement of the public, judges, court
In 2015, State of the State Courts survey respondents were asked: "How would you rate the job being done by courts in your state?" Surprisingly, the
The courthouse is a prominent symbol of the rule of law and a day-to-day workplace for judges, attorneys, and court staff. As a workplace, it is
“The most powerful leadership tool you have is your own personal example.” - John Wooden Have you ever attended an overcrowded school? Shared a small
I recently participated in an “industry day” for a new county courthouse project located in the community I grew up in. The event featured county
If you are designing a new courthouse or renovating existing space, seriously consider budgeting time and money for the construction of a courtroom
If your courthouse space is maxed out, you may find yourself getting pretty creative to repurpose space (think storage closet conversion). Or your
It’s no secret that technology is transforming our daily lives. Phone booths have nearly vanished from urban landscapes (and with the rise in
After spending more than a decade as a courthouse planning consultant, I began studying for the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP)
Six months ago, I received my first ever summons for jury duty. I had somehow eluded it my entire life, but my number was finally up! Serving shed
Each year, I assess more than two dozen courthouses of varying size and character. At the end of each assessment, I recommend an architectural
What happens in a courthouse can have a lasting effect on individuals, families, communities, and even the nation. Therefore, courthouses must be
Objectivity is the bedrock of the American judicial process. We expect the judicial process to be fair and impartial. Should we expect anything less
Problem-solving courts that develop programs to successfully reintegrate parolees into the community and reduce recidivism rates have been an
Planning for courthouses has been our bread and butter for almost 30 years. During this time, we have helped numerous federal, state, and local
When I first started my career, I worked in the case assignment section of a county court clerk’s office. The office provided an employee breakroom
A new courthouse is a desirable solution for courts that are out of space or live with an aging courthouse that doesn’t easily accommodate changing
Anyone seeing the façade of just about any major courthouse in any U.S. city would recognize the significant impact of architectural inspiration in
A sustained increase in court caseload often means that more judges are needed to hear the cases, which results in a need for more courtrooms. For
Courts, like any other public or private organization, often face hectic schedules, busy workloads, and associated challenges, including courthouse
The courthouse is, first and foremost, a symbol of the rule of law as the basic tenet of the American system of government. It also serves a more
The dedication and opening of a new courthouse is always an exciting and monumental event, filled with ceremony, speakers, and celebration. It’s also
The witness represents a critical player in the judicial process. How that witness is presented in court is, in part, established by the location of
On the surface, architecture and advanced analytics disciplines might seem mutually exclusive. However, over 30 years of courthouse planning
This article looks at how assisting pro se litigants helps the many individuals who decide to pursue this path and can help improve the clerk of
The grand jury is an integral and essential component of the American judicial process. Unfortunately, providing appropriate accommodations for the
In courthouses where electronic case filing (ECF) has been implemented, the once bustling clerk of court intake area has become a mere shadow of its
Achieving fair and impartial results in the American judicial system is heavily dependent – perhaps principally dependent – on the collective wisdom
Participation in a jury is the manner in which most Americans experience our judicial system. A much greater number of people serve on criminal and
As an architect, I don’t know everything about the courthouse planning process. As an undergraduate student at Ohio State University, my architecture
Whenever I visit a courtroom, one of the first functional areas that I consider is the jury box in the courthouse planning process. The condition of
The decoration in judges' chambers can reflect their personalities. I have seen many unique collections and displays and have heard wonderful stories
Throughout my career as a courthouse planner, I have continually kept in mind the fact that courthouses are not just facilities where justice is
Today, I will talk about how important it is to perform a needs assessment, focusing on how proper planning from a courthouse improvement project's
Architectural firms and court planning consultants have both unique and overlapping skill sets. If you are concerned that your courthouse is
After years of courthouse planning, it is still painful to go into a courthouse where the operations, security, and image of the court are suffering
When a court is short on space, alternative dispute resolution (often called ADR) can be a viable option for addressing space constraints. In this
Courtroom sharing is a controversial issue considered by courts all over the country. Most of the courts I work with have one courtroom per judge.
For many years, I assessed courthouses, and additional file storage has been a common need for court and related components. The introduction of
Earlier this year, I toured a Midwest courthouse with a deputy from the courthouse law enforcement staff as the initial part of a needs assessment.
When conducting a courthouse planning needs assessment, it is important to evaluate the current capacity and condition of the existing courthouse and
Courthouse planning has comprised a large part of my professional experience. During most planning sessions, population projections come up to
The courthouse planning needs assessment sets the stage for the other elements in the design and construction process (I like to call it a catalyst
Planning, funding, designing, and constructing a significant renovation project to an existing courthouse or the construction of a new courthouse is
I recently had the opportunity to participate in a public-private partnership team proposal for a new courthouse project for Miami-Dade County.
When discussing courthouse metrics, the higher the rating score, the better the existing facility meets the operational needs of the court. An
In the initial Courthouse Metrics Introduction post, I suggested several issues that could be effectively addressed using a comprehensive and
Today, in the fifth installment of my eight-part series on quantitative measures used in courthouse planning, I am discussing the criterion of
This is the third in an eight-part series on quantitative measures used in courthouse planning. This installment focuses on Space standards – the
Last week, I introduced a new series on quantitative measures used in courthouse planning. Today, I will address the first quantitative measure
I have written many posts about courthouse planning in the last year. From space allocation to courthouse design, we’ve explored these issues
Over the past year, I have posted numerous articles addressing courtroom layout and design topics and discussed judges’ chambers and courthouse
A good initial design can be a significant factor in reducing courthouse operational costs. By contrast, less than optimal design features can have
In my previous courthouse posts, I discussed artwork's role in supporting the American courthouse as a symbol of the rule of law and creating a
In my last blog, Art in the Courthouse, I stated how impressed I was by many of the pieces I have seen in courthouses. One of my favorites (shown
As a courthouse planning consultant, I spend considerable time attending meetings and conducting on-site assessments in courthouses. I am never
This is the first in a series concerning applying accessibility requirements in courthouses. I will begin by addressing reconciling courthouse
In my previous blog on courthouse space reduction, I discussed how mobility and workspace sharing practices can be applied to probation and parole
As noted in our Courthouse Space Reduction post, many space reduction practices can be effectively applied to courthouse components occupying office
The corporate world has embraced the concept of reducing office space for many years. Office spaces are being designed for the mobility and
A common issue in courthouses is how to fit an additional courtroom into an existing space. This issue is often difficult to address as many
I visited the library in this historic courthouse several times (image shown below) over a period of years and watched it change in both form and
In this third article focused on overall courthouse circulation, we are discussing fire life-safety code compliance issues to keep in mind during
Defining the Problems with Historic Courthouse Circulation Understanding and defining the problems in modern courthouse circulation is critical to
The connection between the judge's chambers and the courtroom it serves is one of the most essential circulation relationships in a courthouse. This
Today, our focus is on internal circulation issues associated with renovating space to accommodate a judge’s chambers. A judge’s chambers suite
I regularly tour courthouses in my role as a court planning consultant. One of my responsibilities is identifying suitable spaces for future
When saving space in a courthouse, the judge's chambers are seldom the first area to look at. Judges need proper chambers to perform their work and
Unsurprisingly, insufficient space is the principal limitation encountered by court planning in renovating judge chambers. The challenge is to
We usually think of a courtroom as a large, organized, open space full of litigants and participants undergoing court proceedings with spectators
A court planning consultant serves many roles, but – most importantly – a court planning consultant will analyze your courthouse to make critical
In previous blogs, we examined two strategies for fitting a courtroom into an existing space that is too small to meet design standards: flexible
Many court jurisdictions have developed space standards that describe the quantity and quality of space for courtrooms, chambers, office areas, and
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