For immediate release: Jan. 21, 2024
Media contact:
Nick Borzak, Gallatin County Chief Operations Officer
406-582-3185
nick.borzak@gallatin.mt.gov
Gallatin County Justice Center Now Open
Gallatin County’s new courts facility is officially open!
This month, staff from the offices in the Gallatin County Justice Center have moved into the brand-new, 67,000-square-foot building located at 515 S. 16th Ave. in Bozeman. The new facility sits adjacent to the now-closed Law and Justice Center.
The state-of-the-art Justice Center houses:
- Four District Court courtrooms
- Two Justice Court courtrooms
- Youth Court and Probation offices
- Clerk of Court offices
- Standing Master office
- Space for the Self-Help Law Center
Additional features include a large public community and jury assembly room and a security detail office operated by the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office.
The project has been discussed as a community need for many years, as the old Law and Justice Center building is an out-of-code Catholic high school building purchased by the county in the 1980s. The 2021 Montana Legislature funded a fourth District Court in Gallatin County, leaving the physical space issue to be dealt with by Gallatin County. Our District Court judges have been sharing courtrooms in the old building since 2021, but now all four judges will have their own courtrooms and adequate office space for their support staff.
“The opening of the new Gallatin County Justice Center brings expanded capacity, increased efficiency and improved safety for employees and the public,” said Gallatin County Commission Chair Jennifer Boyer. “We are proud of this community investment and thankful for the support our voters gave to make this happen.”
Gallatin County Victim Services, previously located in the old Law and Justice Center, has relocated along with the Gallatin County Attorney’s Office to the former Farm Bureau building at 502 S. 19th Ave., Suite 102, in Bozeman.
Gallatin County 911 Records, also previously housed in the Law and Justice Center, has moved to the second floor of the Judge Guenther Memorial Center at 1709 W. College St.
And last summer, the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office moved into their newly renovated building at 677 Larua Louise Lane in Four Corners.
Please note: Bozeman Municipal Court remains located at the Bozeman Public Safety Center at 121 N. Rouse Ave.
Facility Funding
The $46 million cost of the new Justice Center was funded through a combination of sources:
- Voter-approved bond: $29 million
- County general fund money freed by American Rescue Plan Act funds: $4.8 million
- County savings: $5 million
- Bond premium funds: $3.7 million
- Financing: $3.5 million
Construction began in the fall of 2022 and was completed earlier this year.
What’s Next for the Old Law and Justice Center?
The former Law and Justice Center, originally built in 1961 as a Catholic high school and later purchased by the county and retrofitted for law enforcement and court use, is scheduled for demolition later this spring. The site will be repurposed to provide additional parking.
Public Celebration
A public ceremony to celebrate the opening of the new Justice Center will be held later this spring. Stay tuned for details!
Surplus Sale
Gallatin County is hosting a public surplus sale at the former Law and Justice Center building (615 S. 16th Ave., Bozeman) on Saturday, Jan. 25, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Items for sale include office furnishings, courtroom pews, and other items no longer needed for county business.
For more information, please contact Nick Borzak at 406-582-3185 or nick.borzak@gallatin.mt.gov.
###
