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By Mia Tripi, The Office of County Executive David Crowley
After years of planning, Milwaukee County Supervisors will weigh in on the scope of a critical courthouse project and financing options during July committee meetings. Why does our community need a new courthouse? How will it benefit Milwaukee County? Here’s an overview:
Milwaukee County provides critical services at downtown Courthouse Complex
Like all Wisconsin counties, Milwaukee County is required by the State to provide certain services, including services that relate to public safety and the courts.
Much of that work takes place in downtown Milwaukee, at the “Courthouse Complex.” This complex includes three buildings: the Historic Courthouse, the Criminal Justice Facility, and the Public Safety Building. It’s the hub for County services.
In 2025, community members visited the complex more than 800,000 times. Sometimes those visits are by choice or in celebration – to attend a public County Board meeting or to secure a marriage license or birth certificate. In many other cases, there is no choice but to visit – to participate in jury duty; to request a restraining order; to attend or testify in a trial; to do an important civic job as an employee, or for many other reasons.
New building is needed, repairs aren’t enough
The beautiful columned Historic Courthouse will remain in place. The Public Safety Building, however, must be replaced. At nearly 100 years old, the building is crumbling, dangerous, and it cannot support services that meet Milwaukee County’s modern needs or vision for a healthy community.
“We are faced with an urgent need. The Public Safety Building has well surpassed the end of its life. The question in front of us isn’t whether we replace it, but when we will do it and how responsibly we can get it done,” said Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley. “At the same time, this structural need presents the rare opportunity to make a generational investment in a safer community, greater accessibility, and more efficient services. Milwaukee County can live out our values and priorities without breaking the bank.”
Its processes are outdated and slow, with very little access to technology in its courtrooms.
Existing heating and cooling approaches are out of date and ineffective. This is particularly problematic during the summer, when court and jury rooms can rise to 85 degrees or more. The heat and discomfort adds pressure to jurors who are making life-altering decisions in someone’s case.
The State Supreme Court requires separated, secure paths of travel for the public, staff, and in-custody defendants. In the Public Safety Building, a single hallway must be used by all. Sharing this space is unsafe; it results in hundreds of public safety incidents per year and requires significant staff time from Sheriff’s deputies.
Repairs and renovations are not enough, and cannot change the problematic building layout.
Community-informed design makes the most of opportunity to improve services
Designs for a new, improved building have been informed by extensive local engagement, including through more than 45 workshops and 40 additional meetings with justice-system stakeholders, community partners, and expert consultants.
As a result, a new building would address:
- Accessibility: Signage, wayfinding, translation and ADA-improvements throughout the new courthouse and adjoining Complex
- Climate action: A centralized, energy-efficient utility plan that mitigates emissions from the Courthouse Complex and reduces annual utility costs
- Dignity for defendants: Dedicated spaces for attorney / client meetings; separated pathways that reduce visibility to jurors and the risk of mistrials that may delay a defendant’s day in court
- Future adaptability: Expanded space for problem-solving courts, early intervention programs, and flexible programming or service delivery
- Operations and systems: Modern technology and systems; departments and offices paired or re-located based on function; all criminal courtrooms moved into the new building, instead of being distributed across the Complex
- Safety updates: Secure corridors that align with State Supreme Court standards by establishing three paths of travel – one for the public, one for staff, judges and jurors, and one for in-custody defendants; no jail space will be included in the new building
- Trauma-informed resources: Dedicated spaces where families or victim witnesses can step away from court to find respite
Planning will continue this fall
July committee meetings are the next step. County Supervisors will share guidance about potential cuts or additions to the project plans, and will provide direction about project financing. The Capital Improvement Committee will meet in August to discuss all capital needs and recommend a path forward. September committee meetings will advance the discussion further, and the County will continue to keep the community informed throughout.
If you are interested in learning more or seeing renderings of what a new courthouse could look like, visit https://county.milwaukee.gov/InvestinginJustice.
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