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ST. GEORGE -- The new Fifth Judicial District Courthouse in St. George opened its doors Monday.
Construction on the new $29 million courthouse, located at 206 Tabernacle, began in February 2008.
The 91,734 sq. ft. building includes eight courtrooms for use by the district and juvenile courts and office space for the district and juvenile courts, juvenile probation, the Office of Guardian ad Litem, and mediation.
The building is also designed to accommodate up to eight additional courtrooms as the population and caseload in Washington County grows.
The new courthouse has a secured holding facility for in-custody movement of prisoners as well as holding cells for prisoners that are adjacent to the courtrooms. This layout will prevent interaction between the prisoners and the public or staff.
The property for the courthouse was acquired by the state through a unique three-way trade between the state, city, and Washington County school district.
In exchange for the West Elementary property, the city gave the school district two new parcels of land for new schools. Then turned around and offered the elementary property to the state to build the new courthouse. And in return obtained the old courthouse at 220 N. 200 East.
Employees moved into the new courthouse last week. The telephone numbers for the new courthouse will remain the same.
Image of courthouse is an artist rendering
