EBS STAFF
Gallatin County has opened a new, 67,000-square-foot law and justice center adjacent to its old facility along South 16th Avenue in Bozeman. Construction began in the fall of 2022 and was completed earlier this year.
The $46 million “state-of-the-art” facility includes four district court courtrooms—allowing adequate space for all four district court judges—two justice court courtrooms, youth court and probation offices and other department offices. It was funded by a $29 million voter-approved bond, $5 million from Gallatin County savings, $4.8 million from American Rescue Plan Act funds, $3.7 million from bond premium funds and $3.5 million from financing, according to a Jan. 21 Gallatin County press release.
“The opening of the new Gallatin County Justice Center brings expanded capacity, increased efficiency and improved safety for employees and the public,” Gallatin County Commission Chair Jennifer Boyer stated in the release. “We are proud of this community investment and thankful for the support our voters gave to make this happen.”
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, had fallen out of code compliance and is scheduled for demolition later this spring, according to the release. The county will host a “surplus sale” on Saturday, Jan. 25 from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., including office furnishings, courtroom pews and other items no longer needed.
The old site will be repurposed to provide additional parking.
