In 2002, a pair of new courthouses was completed on North Limestone, to replace the old building on Main Street. The matching buildings were named the Robert F. Stephens Courthouses. Stephens was the former Chief Justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court.
The Circuit Court Building was built at 120 North Limestone, the west end of the block bounded by Main Street, Limestone and Short Streets. The District Court Building was built at 150 North Limestone, the west end of the block bounded by Short, Limestone and Barr Streets. Both buildings are set back 140 feet, facing Limestone. In front a 1.27 acre plaza was built that runs two blocks along Limestone, between Main and Barr Streets and intersected by Short Street.
The courthouses were designed by Sherman Carter Barnhart, of Lexington, with Hartman-Cox Architects, of Washington, D. C. The final cost was $41.9 million dollars. Both buildings are five-story, with a basement, of approximately 120,000 square feet. A tunnel connects the two buildings.
The Circuit and District Courthouse opened in January 2002 and May 2002, respectively.
