Throughout my career as a courthouse planner, I have continually kept in mind the fact that courthouses are not just facilities where justice is administered. Courthouses are also public buildings. I am always inspired when I visit a courthouse that plays an active role in giving back to the...

When a court is short on space, alternative dispute resolution (often called ADR) can be a viable option for addressing space constraints. In this post, I will discuss a particularly effective example where ADR has been successfully used to avoid the need for expansion of courtroom space while...

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. We began by examining the secure route that deputies use to accompany prisoners from the courthouse cellblock to the courtrooms. During this part of...

As a follow-up to several comments I recently received about my article, “Top 3 Technology System Concerns that Impact Courthouse Proceedings,” I thought that it might be helpful to focus on one way that technology is improving the functionality of courthouses: the use of videoconference hearing...

In my previous articles on courtroom layout options, I have addressed such issues as sightlines, furniture options, and access requirements. My focus in this post will be on the core element of the courtroom: the location of the judge's bench.