The Essex County Government Complex is located in Newark , the country seat of Essex County, New Jersey , U.S. at west of end of Market Street in Downtown . It is home to the Essex County Executive , the Board of County Commissioners , and the constitutional officers of the county: the County Clerk , the County Surrogate , and the County Sheriff as well as the County Register . The Essex County Prosecutor's Office and the 5th Vininage of New Jersey Superior Court is based at the government complex, across from which is the campus of Essex County College . The complex comprises various buildings built since 1904, when the historic courthouse was constructed, and is adorned with public art , including statues and busts of prominent civic leaders. Numerous state and county offices are located at the complex, which also has extensive parking facilities.
23-586: The Essex County Courthouse is located at the Essex County Government Complex in Newark, New Jersey , United States. It was built in 1904 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 26, 1975, for its significance in art and architecture. The building, designed by Cass Gilbert , has a four-story rotunda topped with a Tiffany skylight . It features artwork from some of
46-584: A dream…' oration. As President of the Southern Christian Leadership Council, he brought attention to sources of national discrimination, helping to gain passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, forever changing the course of American history. Dr. King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work, on this very day, 50 years ago. Assassinated in 1968, he is one of the most respected and revered of all Human Rights activists." "I show him at
69-525: A four-story rotunda topped with a Tiffany skylight . It features artwork from some of the most well known artists of the American Renaissance period The main façade is adorned with nine sculptures by Piccirilli Brothers . Seated Lincoln by Gutzon Borglum sits on the plaza in front of the courthouse. The Neo-Classical Essex County Hall of Records at 465 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
92-591: A hostage held during prison strike. Among other, it houses offices of the New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division , the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness , and the Essex County Schools of Technology . Congressman Donald Payne Jr. maintains his New Jersey office in the building. The Martin Luther King Jr. Justice Building at 490 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
115-634: A nationwide civil rights movement. He guided a bus boycott that ended segregated seating, supported integrated groups of 'Freedom Riders' who shattered old, southern 'Jim Crow' laws, assisted young people conducting 'sit-ins' at segregated lunch counters, and led hundreds of peaceful protest marches. Brilliant, dignified, persuasive and eloquent, he always stressed non-violence, even in the face of adversity. He inspired thousands of people, of all colors, races and religions, to join hands, and more than 200,000 supporters gathered in Washington, DC, for his iconic 'I have
138-593: A younger age than you mostly see him," the sculptor said. "I tried to capture him at the time he visited Newark." Warren, based in Oregon, also created statues of Rosa Park, Justice William J. Brennan, Jr., Governor Brendan Byrne and Congressman Donald M. Payne at the Essex County Government Complex and the statue of Althea Gibson in Branch Brook Park . The statue was relocated to the jurors entrance of
161-408: Is across from Veterans Memorial Park. It was rehabilitated/retrofitted to offices 2008–2010 at the cost of $ 24 million, its 13th floor becoming a conference center and renumbered to become the 14th. It was dedicated to Leroy F. Smith Jr., associate director of Emergency Medical Services at UMDNJ-The University Hospital for 38 years, who had once entered the jail alone and negotiated the release of
184-716: Is an outdoor promenade between the Hall of Records and the MLK Jr. Building created in 2008 along the former 13th Avenue. Commemorative plaques pay homage to civil leaders and public figures who have made significant contributions to Essex County. Interspersed between the buildings, plazas, and parks are statues and memorials, among them: 40°44′14″N 74°10′44″W / 40.737201°N 74.178822°W / 40.737201; -74.178822 Statue of Martin Luther King Jr. (Newark) There are two statues of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in Newark, New Jersey . Both are located on
207-464: Is dark enough, can you see the stars. I have decided to stick with love, hate is too great a burden to bear. Life's most persistent and urgent question is, What are you doing for others?". The interior lobby of the building serves is monument to the life and legacy of King. It includes a large mural with photographs of and quotes by King and a large-screen television which plays a video of him. Both works were created by Terri Haskins of Hackensack. Also in
230-573: Is engraved with " I Have a Dream ", which references King's famous speech during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom . It notes his Nobel Peace Prize and is engraved with words ascribed to King: Hope, Equality, Peace, Courage, Love and Respect. An accompanying plaque reads: "At a time in American history, when the need for change was evident, Martin Luther King, Jr., a young Georgia minister, rose to lead
253-408: Is recessed. The third story has columns supporting the top nine stories which have narrow vertical windows. The Essex County Sheriff's Office headquarters is located on the second floor of the building. The Essex County Prosecutor's Office is headquartered in the building. A statue of a seated Rosa Parks is situated on the plaza in front of the courthouse. Leroy F. Smith Jr. Public Safety Building
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#1732881036633276-494: Is to be dedicated to Wynona Lipman , the first African American woman elected to the New Jersey Senate . The county purchased the building across from the historic courthouse at 320-321 University Avenue in 2019. relocating the office from Rector Street. It has been proposed to dedicate and rename the building to Sheila Oliver (1952 – 2023), the second lieutenant governor of New Jersey from 2018 to 2023. Legends Way
299-594: The Essex County Government Complex at its newest addition, the Martin Luther King Justice Building. The 2015 statue by Thomas Jay Warren was unveiled on the plaza near the Essex County Hall of Records, on October 14, 2015. The 8 feet (2.4 m) tall bronze statue stands on a 3 feet (0.91 m) tall granite pedestal and depicts King with his hands outstretched and his head tilted slightly downward so onlookers can see his face. The pedestal
322-811: The Essex County Veterans Memorial, opened in September 2009. The Wilentz Justice Complex is was established in 1997 at the Gibraltor Building between Washington Street and Halsey Street . It is named for Robert Nathan Wilentz (1927 – 1996), who was Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court from 1979 to 1996. It houses the Superior Court of New Jersey 's 18 courtrooms, detention facilities, judges chambers, jury rooms, conference rooms, offices for administration staff, offices for
345-666: The family division, special civil part, the child support unit and a host of ancillary support facilities. The courts and offices will be relocated to a new building upon its completion projected for 2025. Construction began on the Essex County Family Courthouse in March 2023 and is expected to be completed in 2024. The new 267,000-square-foot (24,800 m ) building is located at Branford Place between Washington Street and University Avenue. There will be 22 courtrooms, 19 for Family Court and three children-in-court courtrooms. It
368-531: The lobby is a large bronze bust, also created by Warren, of Congressman and civil rights advocate John Lewis of Georgia, a close friend and associate of Dr. King. The original statue Behold , created by Patrick Morelli, is located at Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park in Atlanta. A second casting was commissioned by the New Jersey Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Commission,
391-515: The lobby. Busts of Supreme Court Justices Sonya Sotomayor and Thurgood Marshall civil rights activist Rabbi Joachim Prinz , and Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey Sheila Oliver are planned. Veterans Memorial Park is an Essex County park between the government buildings and a residential neighborhood in University Heights . It was created on the greyfieldsite of a demolished county parking deck. The 2.7 acres (1.1 ha) park, home to
414-406: The modern architecture Essex County Veterans Courthouse was designed by Robert H. Fava, Richard O. Becker, John B. Murray and Warren E Bendixen. The thirteen-story concrete and glass structure is west of the old courthouse at 50 West Market Street. The lower three stories form the extended base on the east and west sides and have vertical concrete pillars with recessed glass walls. The central entrance
437-402: The most well known artists of the American Renaissance period including Seated Lincoln by Gutzon Borglum . The main facade is adorned with nine sculptures by Piccirilli Brothers . Essex County Government Complex The Essex County Courthouse was completed in 1904 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. The building, designed by Cass Gilbert , has
460-741: The new courthouse building. The 2021 statue in front of the new justice building was also created by Jay Warren. The 22 feet (6.7 m) bronze sculpture is placed on an 8 feet (2.4 m) granite pedestal. It depicts King with his right arm gesturing, his hand is outstretched, and he is holding papers that signify victories in the Civil Rights movement – the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 . The engraving quotes King: "We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools. But I know somehow, that only when it
483-400: Was designed by Guilbert and Betelle and built between 1925 and 1927 (cornerstone 1926). The four-story limestone structure is behind and across the street from the historic courthouse. A statue of U.S. Supreme Justice William J. Brennan Jr. . stands at the front of the building. The Essex County Register of Deeds and Mortgages are headquartered in the building. Built between 1967 – 1970,
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#1732881036633506-503: Was designed by Comito and Associates of Newark and built between 2018 – 2021. The four-story glass, steel and concrete structure is just south of the Hall of Records and joined to it with a glass "skywalk". The building has 11 courtrooms. The County Clerk is headquarter in the building. Two statues of Martin Luther King Jr. are located on the grounds. Busts of human rights advocates Congressman John Lewis , Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Congressman Peter Rodino are found in
529-545: Was originally built as a county jail at the same time as the adjacent 1970 Veterans Courthouse. It replaced the Old Essex County Jail , parts of which dated from the 19th century and had become outdated and inadequate. The jail was subsequently replaced circa 2007 by the Essex County Correctional Facility on Doremus Avenue near Port Newark . The 13-story building at Howard Street and Nelson Place
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