The Nachton Courthouse
The Nachton Courthouse, where all matters judiciary are conducted, is located on the west end of Founder's Tree Square and faces the street, across from which is the police station. It is a three story high white building dominated by what locals call "The Steps,"� which lead up to a columned façade. The broad marble stairs are commonly used for press releases and often mark the end of protest marches due to the impressive backdrop of columns and a statue of Lady Justice. Rabble rousers of Nachton find this an excellent setting to get the point of a flag burning or a radical speech across.
The pediment that rests atop the columns of the portico hosts relief sculptures of five women in a classical style who represent the ideals of the courthouse: Law, a woman holding a scroll in one hand, Truth, a woman clearly in the midst of singing, her hands outstretched, Equality, a woman cast in profile, her eyes heavenward, holding a set of scales which are, interestingly enough, out of balance, Courage, a warrior holding a spear and looking out at the viewer with hard eyes, and finally Wisdom, a woman holding an open text. All five seem to bring focus to the blindfolded Lady Justice below.
Stepping inside, a visitor would first come to a row of metal detectors; no weapon passes into the building proper. An open domed ceiling provides a view of the upper floors and lights up the open common area. Relief columns with clean Doric capitals surround the round expanse and the bronze judicial seal marks the center of the circle. Hallways to either side of the common area lead to the east and west wings.
One would find the expected lines of courtrooms as they walk down the marble tiled hallways, but the interior is decorative as well as functional. Cathedral windows line the South wall, while the opposite side hosts more interpretations of the core values of the court house in paintings and sculpture.
On the second floor are judges' chambers and the hallway is designed to impress and intimidate. A series of dark wood doors framed by heavy white molding and decorated with well shined silver doorknobs form a forbidding line down the west wing. The east wing is slightly more welcoming, with tall white flower vases on half column stands and several comfortable chairs lining one wall and various office cubicles for clerks and other staff lining the other.
The top floor hosts the impressive court library and hall of records, where Nachton's legal history is within easy reach. Bookshelves and filing cabinets line the walls of the north side, whereas the south side is broken up into small reading rooms where one may peruse various documents at their leisure and in relative privacy. The center circle is an open balcony that allows one to look down on the main floor.