Aug. 24, 2025 6:15p
(WGTD)---A symbol of justice and good governance in Kenosha County for 100 years was recognized Sunday. The centennial anniversary of the Kenosha County Courthouse was marked with a public ceremony that included a round of speeches from the courthouse steps, tours, an ice cream social in the park across the street and music from the Kenosha Pops Concert Band and a small contingent from the UW Marching Band.
Several hundred people attended and many participated in an ice cream social held across the street in Civic Center Park.
The event was emceed by Kenosha County Executive Samantha Kerkman. "This building represents more than just brick and stone," she said. "It's a place where neighbors serve on juries, where disputes are resolved peacefully and where citizens can see their government in action."
Other speakers included State Supreme Court Justice Rebecca Dallet who provided a lesson on the separation of powers, a topic that has received renewed attention during the Trump administration.
Retired Judge Mary Kay Wagner noted that in her estimation the building’s power is derived from the thousands of people, from judges to lawyers to clerks, who have worked there over the years. "Those good people of this county made the wheels of justice move every day and in every way," she said. "Those people and those that continue to work in this building are the crowning glory of this building."
While some of the speakers, and those in attendance, relayed fond memories, former Kenosha County Executive John Collins noted for WGTD that not everyone who has spent time inside holds it in high regard. "This is a place where justice is meted out," Collins said. "Justice is always in the eye of the beholder and is often elusive. So justice can be as hard as the limestone that covers this building or it can bring joy to people because they are hearing the results of a case that they agree with."
One of the speakers, Kenosha County Chief Judge Chad Kerkman, made a brief reference to the 2020 demonstrations that occurred in the wake of the Jacob Blake shooting when the courthouse became a focal point for protesters, and a backdrop for journalists whose reports were transmitted worldwide.
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