The historic Lea County Courthouse was a “New Deal” WPA project built in 1937 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. While the existing courthouse is in good physical condition, it could no longer be deemed viable as a safe or effective judicial facility. The County Commission voted to renovate and re-purpose the historic Courthouse to fill County Administration needs and to construct a new Judicial Complex.

The building form, appearance and organization were derived as honest expressions of court function, economies of revitalization, and timeless qualities of composition, structure and material. Public functions and circulation are placed on the west, while secure judiciary/staff functions and circulation are along the east. The most public functions occur at level one, District Attorney at level two, and District Court Sets occupy the upper levels, topping out with the Grand Courtroom set. Detainee transport and holding is completely segregated below grade. Secured direct delivery of detainees from the below-grade detention area occurs via elevator to secure courtroom holding suites at each level.