Oklahoma County Courthouse, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

This impressive art deco courthouse was built in 1937 and serves Oklahoma County, Oklahoma.  Apparently it was loosely inspired by Mayan temples, which is unusual.

It was a Great Depression works project.

Jefferson County Courthouse, Port Arthur Texas.

This is the courthouse for Jefferson County, Texas, in Port Arthur.

This courthouse is one of the many public works projects courthouses Built during the Great Depression.  As the sign for the courthouse notes, it was built in 1935 and 1936, at time during which the fortunes of Port Arthur frankly look t have been better than they currently are.

Does this courthouse belong on this blog?  That's a question I'll soon be addressing but it is debatable.  This Courthouse is technically west of the Mississippi, but culturally, it's in the Deep South.  I've posted it, but frankly, this is about as far east and south, in more ways than one, that a person can get and still claim, if they can, that this is a "Western" courthouse.

Carbon County Courthouse, Rawlins Wyoming

This is the Carbon County Courthouse in Rawlins Wyoming.  This Depression era courthouse was built by the Works Project Administration, like the former courthouse in Casper, Wyoming.  It houses the Carbon County Court and also serves Wyoming's Second Judicial District together with the courthouse in Albany County.

This courthouse is unique for a classic Wyoming courthouse in that it sits on an entire city block in the center of town.  While not visible in these photos, due to the mature trees, the courthouse is also unique in that it was built with attached substantial living quarters which served the sheriff and his family at the time of its construction. The concept was that the sheriff would need to live there, as the jail was housed in the courthouse.

Hot Springs County Courthouse, Thermopolis Wyoming

This is the Hot Springs County Courthouse in Thermopolis, Wyoming.  I'm unsure of the vintage of this courthouse, but the monumental style suggests it was built during the 1930s.  The building includes both bas reliefs and reliefs in the windows featuring ancient references to the origins of the law. The courthouse serves the Circuit Court of Wyoming's 5th Judicial District and the the District Court for the same district.

Musselshell County Courthouse, Roundup Montana

This is a not terribly good photograph of the Musselshell County Courthouse in Roundup Montana.  This courthouse was built in 1939 and features some art deco styling to it. 

I have to admit that I would have liked to have acquired a better photograph of this very nice looking 1930s vintage courthouse, but my mere presence on Main Street taking the photograph was getting attention, and I was frankly pressed for time. A shame really, as my chances of rephotographing it are slim.

Albany County Courthouse, Laramie Wyoming.

This is the Albany County Courthouse in Laramie, Wyoming. The courthouse was built in 1931, and is typical for government buildings of that era, which were generally affecting a more "modern" appearance.

This courthouse is one of two courthouses serving the Wyoming's 2nd Judicial District, the other being in Rawlins Wyoming. This courthouse also serves as the seat of the county government and the seat of the Circuit Court for Albany County. The courthouse is perhaps unique in Wyoming in that the presence of the University of Wyoming's College of Law means that it has a bit more student interaction than some other courts.

 Second Judicial District's courtroom.

The memorial to Albany County and University of Wyoming dead of World War One is on this block.

Wyoming Supreme Court

This is the courthouse of the Wyoming Supreme Court in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The Courthouse is located directly across from the State Capitol building, although it faces the Hathaway building.

This classically styled courthouse has been in use for quite some time, but I neglected to get the date of its construction at the time these photos were taken. The building is generally from the 1930s, and it bears a bit of a resemblance to the former Natrona County Courthouse in Casper Wyoming, which was built of similar materials, and a similar style, during the 1930s. Like that courthouse, this one also features reliefs in the building, although they are less prominent than those in the Natrona County Courthouse. The Wyoming Supreme Court building recently underwent renovations.

This courthouse not only contains the courtroom where oral arguments are heard, but it also contains the court offices and the State Law Library. It sits on a city block in downtown Cheyenne, and is the only structure on the block. Next to the Capitol building, it is the single most impressive state building in Cheyenne.

The Wyoming Supreme Court is the chief court of the Wyoming court system. There is no intermediate court of appeal from District Courts. District Courts, however, do serve as appellate courts for the Circuit Court. Appeals in Wyoming are by right for all matters in the District and Circuit Courts.

Ewing T. Kerr Federal Courthouse, Casper Wyoming

This is another Depression Era Wyoming courthouse, although it's roots are to be found in the era of oil fueled economic expansion that started during World War One. Funding for the courthouse came from a 1926 appropriations act that funded a variety of courthouses around the nation. The cornerstone, however, was set in 1931 and the courthouse completed in 1932.

This courthouse actually has seen as much use as a post office as it has as a courthouse. The original building housed all of the principal Federal offices in Casper, Wyoming, including the post office (my father worked there in the mid 1940s). A courtroom was a feature of the building, but the concept of a Federal courthouse was somewhat different at the time. There was no sitting Federal judge and the courtroom was instead simply available for a Federal judge, the concept being that the single Federal judge in Cheyenne would need to travel to outlying towns and cities to hear cases. There were also Federal courthouses, in this era, in Green River, Lander, and Yellowstone National Park. This courthouse also housed such Federal employees as the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps recruiters.

In the 1970s the post office moved to a new large Federal building that was built some blocks away. At that time, the enormous Depression era murals that were in the building were removed and reinstalled in the new post office. The mail boxes, which dominated the first floor, were also moved. A few Federal offices remained in the building, however, such as the United States Geological Survey which I briefly worked for in the 1980s.

By the late 1980s Wyoming's Federal Courts had expanded to the point where there were then three sitting Federal judges, all in Cheyenne. This then lead to the view that it was time to relocate one of the judges to Casper. The courthouse was remodeled in the late 80s with this in mind, and it is now a purpose designated courthouse, with offices limited to the judiciary or the U.S. Attorneys. The Federal District Court courtroom is widely regarded as one of the most attractive in Wyoming, and a second smaller courtroom, used principally by the Bankruptcy Court, is also well appointed, if quite small.

The building obtained its current name after the remodeling, and it is now named for longtime late Federal Judge, Ewing T. Kerr.

If you are summoned to a Federal (not state) jury in Casper, Wyoming, this is where you go.

Federal Courthouse, as viewed from my office in the Consolidated Royalty Building.

Natrona County Courthouse

This is a courthouse with no courtrooms, at least it no longer has any receiving that use.

This Great Depression era courthouse originally housed the 7th Judicial District and Natrona County courts. In later years, however, the district court's growth meant that the county court moved into an adjoining building, and the district court used a large and small courtroom. In the last decade, however, the addition of a third district court judge meant there was no longer sufficient room for the district court, and the Townsend Hotel was remodeled into a courthouse, as depicted below. Today this courthouse is used for county offices.

This courthouse does feature one very large, and beautiful, 1930s vintage courtroom. The jury box was uniquely cast at an angle, so the jury sat facing the witnesses and the judge. Unlike almost every other courtroom, the opposing parties sat essentially side by side, on the same side of the courtroom. Off hand, it's the only courtroom configured in this style I can recall.

The small courtroom was a dismal affair, being very tiny. It was nice looking, having been obviously built at the same time the county court had been moved to new quarters, but it was entirely too small, even though it could accommodate a very cramped jury.

This building was built by the WPA and features a number of bas reliefs depicting the history of the region.

Do not go here for jury duty, if you live in Natrona County and are summoned to jury duty. This building no longer functions as a courthouse. Go instead to the Townsend Justice Center if you are reporting for district court or circuit court jury duty.