If you’ve driven on Interstate 5 near downtown Sacramento lately, you may have seen the construction of a new building in the Railyards at the NW corner of H and 6th Street and wondered what it was. This is the future home of Sacramento Superior Court, an agency SCERS has provided retirement benefits for since 1941.

Court employees (other than judges) have been members of SCERS for more than 80 years. When the Court separated from the County to become an independent public employer in January 2001, its employees remained with SCERS for their retirement, disability, and death benefits.

Court Executive Officer Lee Seale considers SCERS to be an invaluable partner. “This relationship with SCERS allows us to attract and retain an excellent workforce with the promise of a gainful pension,” Seale said. “As a result, many of our employees stay with the Court for the entirety of their career. Like our cherished employees, SCERS is dependable and trusted.”

Employees of Sacramento Superior Court are excited about their future home. “The court takes great pride in our mission to protect the public’s rights and provide timely access to justice. This building will reflect this pride and serve as a reminder that the work we do is not only important, but must be approached with care and sensitivity,” said Seale. “The new courthouse will remind us to honor that work every day when we walk in the door.”

The Gordon D. Schaber County Courthouse, where Sacramento Superior Court employees currently work, was built in the 1960s with 22 courtrooms that eventually extended to 44 in order to handle the increasing volume of criminal, civil, probate, and small claims cases in Sacramento County. But the old building is no longer sufficient to serve the community as intended. The California Courts website states, “The facility is very overcrowded, and it lacks many significant features that are needed to safely function as a criminal courthouse.”

The new Sacramento Courthouse will include the operations currently located at the Hall of Justice, and 53 courtrooms in the 538,000 square foot 18-story facility. It will bring value to the region in many ways. Besides providing a modern environment with more room for the public, jurors, litigants, and over 400 Court employees, the facility will provide free Civil Self-Help Services, offering assistance to people without lawyers who have questions or need help preparing forms.

The Court’s Chief Deputy Executive Officer Kelly Sullivan considers the greatest value of the new courthouse to be access and inclusion. “Anyone will be able to walk into the courthouse and observe, firsthand, the strength of our legal system,” Sullivan said.

Safety will also be a feature of the new courthouse. “Now more than ever, our courts serve as a safe haven for the peaceful resolution of disputes. And this new courthouse will be our community’s safe haven. The space will have a welcoming environment, ensure meaningful access to justice, and be the heart of the community,” Sullivan said.

But it’s not all about the new building, as the Sacramento Superior Court’s mission of service hasn’t changed. As Seale explained, “We are a part of your community and we are here to serve you. Our workforce reflects the diversity of the Sacramento region. Our judges are impartial and committed to applying the facts and law independently and objectively. Whether you are a litigant, victim, witness or interested party, we are here to ensure that you are treated with dignity, respect, and fairness. We are honored to deliver that service every day.”

The new $515 million Sacramento Courthouse was authorized under court-construction legislation in 2008 (SB 1407) and construction is estimated to be complete in May 2024. After the move-in process, it is anticipated that the courthouse will be operational in the fall of 2024. For more information, visit https://www.courts.ca.gov/facilities-sacramento.htm.