It is located at 595 Newark Avenue in the Journal Square section of Jersey City in the abutting Five Corners and Hilltop neighborhoods The building houses government administrative offices, the hall of records, and courts for the county and state.

Opened in 1957 and expanded in 1966, the International Style structure is considered obsolete and will be replaced upon completion of the Frank J. Guarini Justice Complex.

[11] Until 1945 a major depot of an elevated streetcar line, originally operated by the North Hudson County Railway and later Public Service named Courthouse was in the immediate vicinity.

[2] In 1964 the international Style building was expanded to include 10 stories,[1][3] When the modern new glass-and-steel tower was opened[13] the adjacent Hudson County Courthouse was vacated and abandoned, but has subsequently been restored.

Private developers and local neighbourhood association have expressed concern of the removal of the lots from city tax rolls.