FRANKFORT, Ky., May 21, 2025 – The public is invited to a dedication ceremony for the upgraded Madison County Courthouse on Friday. The event will take place at 10 a.m. EDT at the courthouse at 101 W. Main St. in Richmond.
The courthouse has been renovated and expanded with an addition to increase space and improve security in the historic building. Construction began in June 2023 and was completed in April, with the courthouse reopening to the public May 12.
“Kentucky courthouses are the heart of their communities,” Chief Justice of the Commonwealth Debra Hembree Lambert said. “The newly designed, upgraded and restored Madison County Courthouse will be a safer, more efficient and beautiful place for court business and for the public to access justice. I am thankful to the county leaders and state legislators who partnered with the Judicial Branch to bring this project to life.”
Chief Justice Lambert and Madison County Judge-Executive Reagan Taylor will be among the speakers at the dedication ceremony. State legislators, Court of Appeals judges, circuit and district judges, county magistrates, other local officials and AOC staff are also expected to attend.
The facility houses Circuit Court and the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. It is also now home to offices for Specialty Courts and Pretrial Services, which were previously in separate leased spaces.
In addition to a full renovation of the existing structure with all new electrical, lighting, HVAC and substantial security upgrades, a new courtroom was created on the first floor and a new secure parking area was constructed for the judges and circuit clerk. The 4,492-foot expansion added a sally port, holding cells and a grand jury room, bringing the courthouse total square footage to 35,364 square feet.
The improved facility is designed to greatly enhance the delivery of court services. It is equipped with the latest computer, video and networking technology. The courthouse also provides the highest level of Kentucky court security through a single-point entry with magnetometers and security personnel. In addition, prisoners will be segregated from the public by separate entrances and corridors.
The Madison County Courthouse upgrades were designed to meet the standards required by the Administrative Office of the Courts. Integrity Architecture designed the facility and D.W. Wilburn is the construction manager for the project. RSA Advisors is the financial agent. The firms are all based in Lexington.
The Kentucky General Assembly authorized the Madison County project in 2019 and approved its funding in 2022. The total cost of the project was $22.1 million.
The AOC oversees the construction of court facilities statewide as the administrative and fiscal agent for the state court system.
Administrative Office of the Courts
The Administrative Office of the Courts in Frankfort is the operations arm of the state court system. The AOC supports the activities of nearly 3,300 court system employees and 412 elected justices, judges and circuit court clerks. As the fiscal agent for the state court system, the AOC executes the Judicial Branch budget.
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