Rock Island County Courthouse - What's up with the Courtroom Numbers?

Visitors to the Rock Island County Justice Center, also known as the Rock Island County Courthouse are often confused as to the layout and numbering of the courtrooms.

Well, we're here for you.

For some background, the Courthouse and Justice Center used to be two buildings. The original courthouse was built in 1897, and despite many upgrades and changes, it was falling apart and not well-suited for modern usage.

The Old Rock Island Courthouse - from waaaay back

In 2001, the Justice Center was unveiled, which connected to the jail and provided offices and courtrooms. It also had crazy things like outlets where you would want outlets, and an HVAC system that works.

As the Courthouse continued to deteriorate, voters rejected various proposals to renovate or replace it. Eventually through some legal and political wrangling, an annex to the Justice Center was built in 2018 with new offices and courtrooms. That annex essentially became the new courthouse. The old building was demolished in 2023.

With that background, some of this will hopefully make more sense.

So when you come in, you'll go through security. Afterwards, turn left - there are elevators that way - but ONLY to the 200 and 300 courtrooms.

If you want to go to courtrooms 400 or 500, you have to keep going down the hall to the old justice center part, pass another bailiff, and find the other set of elevators. If you are lucky enough to be in Courtroom 100, that's even further down the hall toward the jail.

When I was a young lawyer, we didn't have zoom court and even basic orders typically required a personal appearance in front of a judge. When I was in a new courthouse, I tried my hardest to look like I had been there before and was afraid of asking for directions. Once I got older, I realized there was no shame in asking for directions - that's what the older and experienced lawyers did too. But if you're getting ready for a hearing in Rock Island, maybe now you won't have to ask directions.

(Howard Zimmerle is a lawyer in Moline, Illinois. He can be reached at 309-581-5336).