Calling the new building a
”
temple of justice,
”
Cantil-Sakauye praised the project and what it can bring to the
county and California.
Below, California Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye speaks at this week’s groundbreaking ceremony:
A lone yellow tractor sits in the middle of the open field across from the board of supervisors chambers.
In the upcoming weeks, the tractor will be one of many, as construction on the courthouse is preparing to begin. Eighteen months from now the field will be the home of the new San Benito County Courthouse.
County and city leaders gathered on that dirt lot Monday afternoon to celebrate the groundbreaking of the $37.4 million courthouse. California Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye was also there to celebrate the progress of the courthouse.
Calling the new building a “temple of justice,” Cantil-Sakauye praised the project and what it can bring to the county and California.
“It’s not a place where you’re guaranteed to know the outcome but it will be somewhere you can plead your case in a dignified fashion,” Cantil-Sakauye said.
San Benito County Judge Steven Sanders showed the audience – which filled the board chambers to its capacity – a slideshow of what the building will look like.
With a glass overhang, the building will be energy efficient, have more office space and have more security measures.
The building will have an everlasting effect on the county, Sanders proclaimed.
“It is a nice addition to anchoring the downtown,” Sanders said.
Canil-Sakauye marveled at the symbolism of the building’s glass and steel structure. Comparing glass to transparency, Canil-Sakauye said the courthouse is an opportunity for the legal system to “commit to transparency.” The steel was compared to the judicial system that is “applied to last forever.”
“This is your temple of justice, but this is really the temple of justice you built,” she said.
After a 45-minute presentation in the county chambers, community leaders, including Canil-Sakauye, Administrative Director of the Courts William Vickrey and former supervisors Reb Monaco and Pat Loe continued the groundbreaking ceremonies with eight golden shovels.
See the full story in the Free Lance on Tuesday.
