By admin 
FLAGSTAFF, AZ (AZFamily) — The federal government is investing $70 million to build a full-service federal courthouse in Flagstaff, ending a requirement that sent northern Arizona residents, some driving two to five hours, to Phoenix for federal court proceedings.
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Construction is underway on the 50,000-square-foot facility, located off Route 66 in Flagstaff. The building is expected to open and begin hearing cases as soon as March 2027.
Who the courthouse will serve
Mark Bauer, executive vice president of Easterly Government Properties, the company overseeing the build, said the facility is designed to serve residents across rural northern Arizona, including those living on reservations, who currently have limited access to federal court proceedings in the region.
“We’re talking about potential jurors,” Bauer said. “We’re talking about people that are relying on the federal court system for justice.”
Currently, the Sandra Day O’Connor Federal Courthouse in downtown Phoenix handles federal cases for the Valley and a majority of cases from northern Arizona. Only a small number of federal cases are held in Flagstaff.
Security and design
The building carries a Level 3 security rating, one of the highest designations for a federal facility. It features three separate entrances for judges, the public and defendants.
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“We have perimeter fencing. We have exterior cameras. We have U.S. Marshals actively protecting the interior of this property 24/7,” Bauer said.
The interior will also incorporate Native American architecture and design elements reflecting Flagstaff.
“We have great pride in what we’re doing here and how it’s going to fit into the community,” Bauer said.
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