photo by: Shawn Valverde

The addition on the south side of the Judicial and Law Enforcement Center is pictured on Monday, June 1, 2026.

The Judicial and Law Enforcement Center’s addition is on schedule for completion next month.

Construction began on the addition – a 158,075-square-foot building on the south side of the existing JLEC – in January 2025, and it is anticipated to be completed in mid-July.

The addition will include six courtrooms, judges’ chambers, office areas for District Court staff and new holding areas for people in custody making court appearances. Treanor Architects and J.E. Dunn Construction are the design and construction team.

Services will begin operating in the addition by late July or early August, Karrey Britt, Douglas County’s spokesperson, said.

Once the JLEC addition is complete, renovation work will begin in the existing building. The remodeled areas will feature three updated courtrooms, reconfigured office spaces and modernized public areas, including the lobby and restrooms. Public services such as the Clerk of the District Court’s office and the Douglas County Law Library will be relocated closer to the main entrance for improved accessibility.

As the Journal-World reported, the Douglas County Commission approved an $81.9 million total project budget on Dec. 11, 2024, for the JLEC addition and the new Public Safety Building next to the Douglas County Correctional Facility, 3601 E. 25th St. The project did not require a tax increase, and it is funded with bonds covered under existing sales tax authority and with cash on hand. It is the largest capital improvement project in county history.