USA Courthouses

	Taken in the mid-80's, this view of the Chelan County Courthouse in Wenatchee, Washington features a rose garden and the beginnings of yellow autumn foliage.
	Few courthouses have their own cannon, like the Columbia County Courthouse in Dayton, Washington. Located in the vast south-central wheat belt, this courthouse has a charming red neon sign above the lower right window which declares that "POLICE" occupy the basement. The lower left corner of the image gives a glimpse of a wheat field.
	This was my first courthouse image, taken in 1985. The Douglas County Courthouse in Waterville, Washington was then surrounded by magnificent evergreens, and had a green picnic table set atop a stump in the front yard. I had the privilege of appearing there twice as a lawyer. Sadly, the pine trees and picnic table are now gone..
	This is the same Douglas County Courthouse, except it is a vertical shot which shows off the tower, flagpole and the high evergreens. I've included this view because it is the composition used on the covers of the Prosecutor and the Resources Directory, which can be seen under Published Photos.
	I've always called this picture of the Garfield County Courthouse in Pomeroy, Washington, "Petunias." Like Columbia County's courthouse, it is in wheat country, and a wheat field is visible at the right margin of the image. It seems more like a funky mansion than a courthouse. Lady Justice stands atop the roof, holding her scales, blindfolded.
	The Glenn County Courthouse in Willows, California lies in the flat expanse of the northern Sacramento Valley. On this day, cumulus clouds were punching up the sky. A Hispanic boy of 5 and his younger brother, neither of whom apparently understood my urgent pleas (in English) that they move off the steps, seemed to believe I was there to take their pictures! It wasn't until a court worker came and gently shooed them away that I was able to take this picture.
	This classic example of Romanesque architecture sits in the arid farm country of central Washington. The Grant County Courthouse in Ephrata was caught in early morning sunlight, the surrounding trees black in shadow, and the sky a deep blue.
	Winnemucca is roughly two hours east of Reno, in the high desert which dominates central Nevada. I was surprised to find several Basque restaurants in town. This shot of the Humboldt County Courthouse, taken in the morning, has a delicate trace of shadows thrown by the iron railing leading up the concrete steps.
	The Jackson County Courthouse in Medford, Oregon lies in a lush agricultural valley about an hour's drive southwest of Crater Lake. A storm had moved through the previous night, and I spent half an hour picking up debris -- mostly sticks and leaves -- from the lawn before I took this shot. It was early morning, and I was hurrying to finish before the staff arrived to start the day.
	I photographed the Lincoln County Courthouse in Davenport, Washington in 1988. A few years later, the building was gutted by fire. It was rebuilt upon the original design, but the Uncle Sam poster on the front porch and the shrubs and trees near the building are gone.
	I never expected to find an Art Deco building in one of California's most famous and historic gold mining towns. Nevada County Courthouse, in Nevada City, California, had an American flag whipping proudly from the pole atop the building. It also sported a bright red banner proclaiming: Juror Appreciation Week. It was the weekend and no one was around, but I was afraid to remove the banner, for even a few minutes. I didn't want to be arrested! In retrospect, I like the sentiment.
	The Pacific County Courthouse in South Bend, Washington reveals the ambition of the town's early commissioners. It has a Tiffany stained-glass dome window. The park-like grounds are extensive. During the last century, the area shipped countless loads of fresh oysters to San Francisco. But dreams of becoming a major economic center never materialized: Pacific is now a sleepy rural county.
	The Skagit Valley Courthouse sits in the heart of Mount Vernon, Washington, hemmed in by the business core. But on this bright spring day, I was able to find an angle that makes it look every bit as Olympian as the architect must have imagined in his drawings.
	The Spokane County Courthouse is surrounded by parking meters, cars, lamp posts, mail boxes, garbage cans and uninspiring shrubbery. But I realized that the spire, floating above the trees, was a stunner. The sky, darkened by a polarizing filter, was equally amazing.
	The Storey County Courthouse is tucked into the same steep hillside that all of Virginia City, Nevada is laid against. I used a wide angle lens from across the narrow street, but was still barely able to capture the entire front. The opulence of this gold-rush-era structure is apparent in the extensive use of carved stone and marble.
	You sometimes find nice embellishments on courthouse grounds, like the marble bench that sits under an old pine in front of the Tehama County Courthouse in Red Bluff, California. It is a reminder that those who come before the courts sometime need to rest and reflect upon their circumstances. A short stroll around beautiful grounds, and a brief respite beneath an ancient evergreen, help to gather one's wits and prepare for the next round of testimony.
	This looks like Spain, but it is the Pima County Courthouse in Tucson, Arizona. The arch, the curves and embellishments, the deep blue sky, and the hall through the heart of the building revealing another arch of sky, make this composition one of my favorites.
	If you've never driven along the western border of Idaho, between Boise and Coeur d' Alene, you have missed some of the most scenic country in the U.S. The Washington County Courthouse in Weiser stands at the southern gateway to the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area. The courthouse was rebuilt after fire destroyed the original in 1938. The deputy recorder took several minutes to give me a sketch of the county's history, and the clerk's office staff offered western hospitality in providing me with everything from a cup of water to as much hard candy as I wanted to scoop from the bowl on the counter. All courthouse staffs should be so friendly!