About Us
The Museum
This unique museum opened in 2012 and is centered around a restored cellblock on the sixth floor of Maricopa County’s Historic old Courthouse – the Courthouse has been renovated to its 1929 grandeur. While visiting the museum you will get a sense of Maricopa County’s legal history, its court cases and important elements of the Rule of Law, including individual rights and liberties guaranteed in the United States and Arizona constitutions. To our knowledge, it is the only such museum in an active courthouse
in the country.
The Exhibits
The Justice Museum exhibits and programs are designed to advance the conversation about public policy issues relating to the central theme of justice in Arizona. The current exhibits focus on watershed moments in Arizona’s legal history, including Miranda v. Arizona, In re Gault and the impeachment of Gov. Evan Mecham. Other exhibits offer insight into the lives of icons in the state’s legal history, such as U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.
Visitors to the Museum can experience what jail life was like back in the mid-1900s and view original, preserved prisoner artwork.
Our Newest Exhibit
In January, the Justice Museum & Learning Center unveiled its new exhibit, Breaking Ground: The Remarkable Journeys of Justice Sandra Day O’Connor and Arizona Women in Law. The exhibit celebrates the trailblazing accomplishments of Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman to serve on the United States Supreme Court. Additionally, we honor more than 30 outstanding women lawyers and judges who marked many “firsts” in the Arizona legal community. These strong women carved out paths for many to follow, demonstrating through hard work and determination that everyone has the same opportunity to uphold the rule of law.