by Kent Jennings Brockwell
Staff Writer
Today, whenever the word “courthouse” comes up within earshot of the downtown area, City Council members cringe at the thought of multi-million dollar financing and the rising cost of construction materials.
But while all of the focus seems to revolve around the construction of a new courthouse these days, many people don’t realize that Duval County has a court system history dating back to the 1500s. From the hangings of mutinous sea captains to the imprisonment of the most prominent civil rights leader of our time, all four of Duval County’s courthouses have seen their fair share of history since the county was established in 1822.
Here’s some historical information and photos courtesy of attorney Edward Booth Jr. and the Jacksonville Historical Society.