Liverpool Magistrates' Court facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Liverpool Magistrates' Courts |
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Magistrates' Courts
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| General information | |
| Town or city | Liverpool |
| Country |  England |
| Coordinates | 53°24′33″N 2°59′09″W / 53.4092°N 2.9858°W |
| Construction started | 1857 |
| Completed | 1859 |
| Client | His Majesty's Courts Service |
The Magistrates' Courts building on Dale Street in Liverpool was once a very important place. It was used for special court hearings until 2015. This historic building was designed by John Grey Weightman. It was built a long time ago, between 1857 and 1859.
This building is so special that it is a Grade II listed building. This means it is protected because of its history and architecture. For many years, different parts of the court system used this building.
What is a Magistrates' Court?
A magistrates' court is where less serious legal cases are heard. These cases are decided by specially trained people called magistrates. Magistrates are volunteers from the community. They listen to evidence and make decisions.
Before the 1970s, there were also special courts for young people. These were called juvenile courts. They were in buildings on Great Crosshall Street. Later, a new, modern building was opened for these courts. There were also courtrooms on Victoria Street. These were mostly used for cases about road traffic rules.
A New Home for the Courts
In 2007, a big announcement was made. The old Dale Street building would close down. A brand new court complex would be built instead. This new complex was planned to be very modern. It would have 14 courtrooms for adult cases.
The project was approved with a budget of £35 million. The new courts were expected to be ready by 2012. However, the move took a little longer than planned.
Moving to Queen Elizabeth II Law Courts
The courts finally moved in June 2015. They relocated to the Queen Elizabeth II Law Courts. This new building is also in Liverpool city centre. It provides a modern space for all the court hearings. The old Magistrates' Courts building on Dale Street is now no longer used for court cases.
