The first Monterey County Court House was built in 1878, designed by Jacob Lenez, Jr., which was a brick Victorian building.

Today a courtyard, lily pond, and commemorative sculpture occupy the site.

[2][3][4] The second court house was designed by local architect Robert Stanton in the Art Moderne or WPA Moderne style, and was built in 1937 using funds provided by the Works Progress Administration (WPA).

It is extensively embellished by Mora's sculpture and reliefs, with comparatively sober detailing around the perimeter and more extensive decoration on the courtyard elevations, with customized relief friezes at the tops of the fluted rectangular arcade columns.

Small bronze castings decorate the doors and a large freestanding Mora sculpture in travertine forms the centerpiece of the courtyard.