The seven-story courthouse is 176 feet (54 m) tall, placing it tenth on the list of Albuquerque's tallest buildings.

Planning for the courthouse began in 1993 and after some initial wrangling the city chose a two-block site north of Lomas between Third and Fourth streets.

This plan was immediately embroiled in controversy because one of the blocks was the site of McClellan Park, which dated from 1919 and had housed New Mexico's Madonna of the Trail monument since 1928.

On the other hand, supporters of the courthouse, led by Mayor Martin Chavez, considered the park an eyesore that could be put to a better use as a site for new development.

The Madonna of the Trail monument was moved to the northwest corner of the courthouse site, where it remains.