CENTENNIAL, Colo.—Arapahoe County marked an important milestone recently with the official opening of three new courtrooms at the Arapahoe County Justice Center, expanding capacity for civil and domestic relations cases and helping reduce delays for residents.
County leaders, members of the judiciary, law enforcement partners, and project team members gathered for a ribbon cutting to celebrate the $6.16 million investment, which adds 13,000 square feet of courtroom and support space. This significant build-out required approximately 39,000 work hours over a 505-day construction period.
Meeting a Growing Demand
The new courtrooms—designated as Divisions 31, 32, and 33—were built primarily to serve district civil cases and domestic relations matters, including family law cases. The expansion responds to a documented need within the 18th Judicial District and ensures Arapahoe County can meet growing caseload demands.
The urgency of the project was heightened in January 2025, when Arapahoe County became its own judicial district. This transition meant the courts lost the flexibility to rely on courtroom space in neighboring counties when demand exceeded capacity. Without additional courtroom space, the district risked longer delays and challenges accepting future judgeships allocated by the state. The three new courtrooms help remove those barriers.
“In Colorado, judges and court staff are funded by the state, and counties are responsible for providing the facilities that allow justice to be delivered,” said Board Chair Leslie Summey. “This investment ensures that when the state allocates judges to Arapahoe County, we are ready to serve the public.”
Impact on Residents and Infrastructure
District Attorney Amy Padden noted that delays in civil and family cases have real impacts on residents.
“When civil and family cases move efficiently, the entire justice system functions better. Judges can focus on the cases before them. Court staff are not stretched beyond capacity. And people experience a system that feels fair, responsive, and respectful of their time and their lives,” Padden said.
Chief Judge Michelle Amico emphasized that courtroom space is essential to maintaining access to justice:
“These courtrooms are where people from all walks of life come to resolve disputes, protect their rights, and find a path forward,” Amico said. “Arapahoe County provides us with the infrastructure that is essential to ensure fair, timely, impartial, and equitable access to justice. Simply put, our judicial officers and staff cannot work efficiently and effectively without safe, modern, and adequate space to serve the public.”
Modern Construction & High-Tech Design
To accommodate the addition of three courtrooms, the project included the demolition of former office space and comprehensive upgrades to mechanical, electrical, plumbing, audiovisual, and lighting systems. The build also added new conference rooms, judges’ chambers, office space, maintenance areas, and a briefing room.
The facility was designed with both safety and modern litigation in mind. Security enhancements include Kevlar security panels integrated into the courtroom casework. Adolfson & Peterson Construction served as the general contractor, with Reilly Johnson Architecture leading the architect and design team. County Facilities and Fleet Management staff worked closely with state partners to coordinate the specialized audiovisual and security systems required for modern legal proceedings.
County leaders said the expansion reflects a broader commitment to investing in essential infrastructure and strengthening public institutions.
“Courtrooms may not be something residents think about every day,” Summey said. “But when they need the justice system, it needs to work. This project ensures it can.”
