Hall of Justice (Los Angeles) facts for kids
The Hall of Justice in Los Angeles is an important building located in the Civic Center area of Downtown Los Angeles. It's found on Temple Street, right in the heart of the city's government buildings.
Built in 1925, this building was one of the first large structures to help create the modern Civic Center we see today. It was designed to be a central place for justice in Los Angeles County.
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What is the Hall of Justice?
For many years, the Hall of Justice was the main center for the justice system in Los Angeles. It housed several important offices:
- The Los Angeles County courts, where legal cases were heard.
- The Los Angeles County Coroner, who investigates deaths.
- The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office, which is like the county police.
- The Los Angeles County District Attorney, who handles legal cases for the state.
It also served as the main Los Angeles County Jail for a long time.
Building Design and History
The Hall of Justice was designed in a style called Beaux-Arts. This style was popular in the early 1900s and often features grand, classical designs. A group called the Allied Architects Association designed the building. This group was made up of many talented architects from Los Angeles who worked together on public buildings.
The Hall of Justice was a very important building for the county's legal system. It was even featured in popular TV shows like Dragnet, Perry Mason, and Get Smart. It was also used as a filming location for the movie Absolute Power.
Famous Connections
Over the years, many well-known people were held at the Hall of Justice. These included Charles Manson and Sirhan Sirhan. The building also saw autopsies performed on famous figures like actress Marilyn Monroe and former U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy.
Rebuilding After the Earthquake
In January 1994, the Hall of Justice was badly damaged by the 1994 Northridge earthquake. Because of the damage, the building had to be closed down.
However, the Hall of Justice was not forgotten! It underwent a huge restoration project to fix the damage and make it stronger against future earthquakes. This process is called seismic retrofitting. In 2015, after years of hard work, the building officially re-opened. Today, the offices of the Los Angeles County Sheriff and the District Attorney have returned to their historic home in the Hall of Justice.
