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Historic Hudson County Courthouse
Step back into Jersey City history at the William Brennan Courthouse in the Journal Square District. This remarkable Beaux Arts-style building has a grand stained-glass dome, beautifully detailed interior murals and a recurring role on the hit television show Law and Order. Originally opened in 1910 and painstakingly restored in the mid-1970s, the William Brennan Courthouse offers visitors a vivid glimpse into Hudson County’s rich history.
The Brennan Courthouse is located at 583 Newark Avenue at Newark, Baldwin and Pavonia Avenues and Willow Court in Jersey City. It was designed by Hugh Roberts, a Jersey City architect, who planned the edifice to be the "cathedral of justice" in Hudson County. The interior was designed by Francis Millet, a well-known American painter, writer and trustee of the Metropolitan Museum of Art who later died during the sinking of the Titanic.
The courthouse operated from 1910 until 1966, when the courts moved next door to the Hudson County Administration Building. The original courthouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970, but remained empty until restoration work began in the mid-1970s. In 1985, the civil courts moved back into the original building, followed by the offices of the Hudson County Executive in 1989. More recently, the beautiful courtrooms have been seen on the popular television show "Law and Order," which often films episodes here.
Your journey begins at the main entrance on Newark Avenue in Jersey City, where you can admire the tall pillars, carved ornamental scrolls and bronze lanterns that adorn the entryway. As you enter the building, you will pass under the words, "PRECEDENT MAKES LAW: IF YOU STAND WELL, STAND STILL." From the main entrance you can explore four stories of marble floors, intricately carved sculptures and doorways, and beautifully detailed murals.
For a detailed description of the courthouse interior, visit the New Jersey Judiciary Web site. For more information or to arrange a tour of this historic Jersey City building, call 201-795-6000.
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