Weld County Breaks Ground on Justice Center

The county has broken ground on its Downtown Justice Center as commissioners approved emergency financing for the $346 million project.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Criminal Justice

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of an exposed civic foundation grid and excavator arm against a wide prairie horizon, evoking a courthouse under construction. — Weld County broke ground on its $346 million Downtown Justice Center in Greeley after commissioners approved emergency financing that is now the subject of a lawsuit from County Council President Elijah Hatch. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Should your county spend $346 million on a new downtown justice center?

Weld County broke ground at the future site of the Downtown Justice Center in Greeley, part of the Downtown Civic Campus project. The county commissioners passed an emergency ordinance approving certificates of participation to fund the project, with Commissioner Jason Maxey the only member voting against.

Why it matters

The project's financing has drawn a lawsuit from Weld County Council President Elijah Hatch, and a judge has not yet ruled on the case. Residents of Greeley and the county will be affected by the courthouse's cost and by how the financing dispute is resolved.

The county approved certificates of participation for no more than $250 million at 5.85% interest, with the financing pending a lawsuit filed in August by Weld County Council President Elijah Hatch. A judge heard the case in early October, and no decision has been made.

The players

Weld County Board of Commissioners

The five-member county governing body that approved the emergency ordinance for the Justice Center financing.

Elijah Hatch

Weld County Council president who filed the lawsuit challenging the county's financing plan.

Jason Maxey

Weld County commissioner who was the only member to vote against the emergency ordinance.

The details

The six-story courthouse will be built next to the current courthouse complex. The board initially planned to vote Monday but postponed because Commissioner Lynette Peppler was absent, and the ordinance passed Wednesday under Section 3-14 of the Home Rule Charter, which requires four of five votes.

August: Hatch filed a lawsuit against the county over the financing plan.
Early October: The lawsuit went before a judge, and no decision has been made.
Thursday evening: The Weld County Council has called a special session to discuss oversight of the financing.

Legal Context

The county invoked an emergency ordinance under Section 3-14 of its Home Rule Charter, which requires four of five board members to approve, while Hatch's lawsuit challenges whether the project violates Section 14-8 of the county charter. The council will also revisit its earlier decision on commissioner compensation for 2029.

Residents of Greeley and Weld County will bear the financing costs for the $346 million courthouse, with up to $22 million in annual base rentals payable under the lease-purchase agreement. If the lawsuit succeeds, construction could be halted until a special election is held.

The takeaway

The Justice Center's future now depends on a pending court ruling and the council's oversight, so readers should track both the lawsuit and Thursday's special session. The financing terms and any changes to the project will shape the county's costs for years.

What happens next

The Weld County Council will hold a special session Thursday evening to discuss oversight of the financing, and a judge's ruling on Hatch's lawsuit is still pending.