Banning Breaks Ground On New Courthouse

A new courthouse in Banning means help is on the way for the Riverside County Superior Court system and its backlog of cases.

City and county leaders held a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday for the new Banning Justice Center.

The project, funded by the state, is expected to cost $63 million.

It will house six courtrooms compared with the 2 courtrooms at Banning’s current courthouse.

City and county officials see the new justice center becoming a driving force for the city’s economy.

“The main thing it means is jobs,” said Banning Mayor Don Robinson. “We’re gonna have 300 new jobs during construction of the facility and then 180 jobs after it’s built.”

Riverside County Supervisor Marion Ashley said the permanent jobs the justice center will create will bring more people to the Banning area.

“Many of them are going to locate here in the pass, live here, shop here,” said Ashley. “They work here, they’ll be doing a lot of shopping here.”

Construction of the new courthouse is scheduled to be completed by fall of next year.