Queen Elizabeth II Law Courts, Liverpool

Until the mid-1980s, all Crown Court cases were heard in St George's Hall. However, as the number of court cases in Liverpool grew, it became necessary to commission a more modern courthouse for both criminal and civil matters: the site selected by the Lord Chancellor's Department had been occupied by Liverpool Castle between the 13th and 18th century. The new building was commissioned by the now-defunct Property Services Agency, who were seeking a design which expressed authority and power. Construction of the new building started in 1973. in the brutalist style, built with vertically ribbed pre-cast concrete panels in dark, reddish tones at a cost of £43.4 million, and was officially opened in 1984. ==Architecture==

The design by Farmer and Dark features towers on the north and south sides which were intended to echo Liverpool Castle. The interior, which accommodates 28 court rooms on 10 storeys, contains strips of brown ceramic tiles in strips between the staircase tower windows. ==Notable trials==

Notable trials have included: • The trial and acquittal of Ken Dodd for tax evasion in 1990 • The trial and conviction of Michael Barton for the murder of Anthony Walker in 2005 • The trial and conviction of Sean Mercer for the murder of Rhys Jones in 2008 • The trial and conviction of the Gooch gang for murder in 2009 ==References==