Social Law Library

Hearsay

This Old House

The historic Suffolk County Courthouse, the majestic structure located behind Center
Plaza that once housed the Supreme Judicial Court, is most recently remembered for its
faulty elevators, infestation of rodents and musty atmosphere.

But all that is about to change as the building's long-awaited facelift gets under way.

According to Kevin Flanigan, spokesman for the Division for Capital Asset Management, construction is set to begin in a few weeks for the newly renovated courthouse, which will once again serve as home to the SJC as well as the Appeals Court and Social Law Library.

The historic courthouse, whose facade is still used as a backdrop on the popular legal drama "The Practice," most recently housed the Registry of Deeds, Land Court, Probate & Family Court, Suffolk Superior Court and Boston Municipal Court before it shut down.

It was originally built between 1892 and 1895 as a three-story building, but two additional stories were added to expand the Social Law Library in 1907.

If all goes as planned, the dank and dusty past of the old courthouse will return to its former glory as the renovated version is slated to be more accessible, cleaner and technologically up-to-date.

According to SJC Public Information Officer Joan Kenney, the SJC will have its main, seven-justice courtroom on the second floor, as well as a judge's lobby, an audio/visual room and offices for staff.

The full-bench courtroom will include a skylight, computer terminals for the judges, and expanded seating that will almost double the current occupancy, she notes.

There will also be an additional single-justice courtroom on the floor that will be located in the original space occupied by the SJC from 1895 until 1939, when the court moved to its current location in the adjacent high-rise.

"The justices are looking forward to opening day in a magnificently restored historic courthouse," Kenney remarks.

Meanwhile, the building's other floors are getting a complete overhaul, and the Appeals Court and Social Law Library will also reside in the historic building.

The Appeals Court will be located on the third floor, and the fourth and fifth floors —previously the Registry of Deeds and the Land Court — will contain the Social Law Library.

The first floor will also house some small stacks and a catalogue room for the library.

Flanigan notes that one of the most welcome improvements for attorneys and judges alike will be a central air and heating system for the entire building, replacing the fans and window units previously used.

The reincarnation of the historic building will include separate elevators and access hallways for judges in order to ensure their privacy and safety, he adds.

"Essentially, it's going to be reconfigured to allow the various court departments to circulate freely without having to go through the public areas," Flanigan says.

The DCAM spokesman highlights the fact that the building will be fully wired with state-of-the-art data transfer technology so "people will be able to plug in computers in various parts of the building."

In addition, the new renovations will include greater handicap accessibility and all new electrical work.