Background
The courthouse in downtown Merced was dedicated on June 8, 2007, after 15 years of planning and almost two years of construction. The 57,600-square-foot building is the first new court facility to be constructed in Merced since 1950. The design and construction, managed by the County of Merced, with input and guidance by the court and the state, was completed within the approved budget. The project was collaboratively funded by the county, the court, and the state, using county courthouse construction funds, civil assessments, court funds, and a capital appropriation from the judicial branch's State Court Facilities Construction Fund.
The new courthouse, which has six jury-capable courtrooms with full holding facilities and space for a potential build-out of a seventh courtroom in the future, meets the Judicial Council's standards for design of trial court facilities in the configuration of secure, separate circulation for the public, judicial officers, and staff, and for holding and transporting in-custody defendants.
