New York County Courthouse (New York City, New York)

 courthouse, Neoclassical (architecture), movie / film / TV location, historical building, 1925_construction

10-story Neo-Classical courthouse completed in 1925. Designed by Guy Lowell with metalwork by the Art Metal Construction Co., it was built to house the New York County Court when it moved from the old Tweed Courthouse. It now houses the State Supreme Court and the Office of the County Clerk.

The granite-faced building was built between 1913 and 1927, completion having been delayed by World War I. Lowell's plan was composed of a rotunda with six radiating corridors surrounded by a hexagonal band. The radial corridors create six light courts. Both the interior and exterior are New York City Landmarks. The courthouse rises above a 100-foot wide flight of steps sweeping up from Foley Square to an imposing colonnade of 10 granite fluted Corinthian columns. Above the columns are engraved words attributed to George Washington: "The true administration of justice is the firmest pillar of good government." Above this is a triangular pediment, 140-feet long, with 14 classical figures in high relief. Along the huge roof line are three statues representing Law, Truth and Equity. All of the pediment sculpture was carved by Frederick Warren Allen. The sides of the building repeat the scale of the portico with impressive Corinthian pilasters set between the windows. Each of the six facades is topped by a modillioned cornice. The lintel of the Courthouse front portico bears the legend "The True Administration of Justice is the Firmest Pillar of Good Government."


The Supreme Court of the State of New York, New York County, is the highest trial court for civil cases in the state court system in New York County. The court traces its origins to the year 1691 and is the oldest continuously-serving court of general jurisdiction in the United States

The Supreme Court, Civil Branch, New York County handles civil cases (those not involving criminal offenses). The court is empowered to decide all such matters. However, the New York City Civil Court is authorized to decide civil cases in which money only in the amount of $ 25,000 or less is at stake. If a case within the reach of the Civil Court is commenced in our court, a Justice of our court may require that it go forward there.

The front steps have been used in the movies The Godfather, Legal Eagles, Twelve Angry Men and in the opening to the NBC series "Night Court" and "Law and Order". It was also a filming location for "White Collar", "Suits", and S1E1 of the Starz Network series "Power Book II: Ghost".

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