[3] Because Yuba County was so large, a satellite court was established at Downieville, with justice administered by Richard Galloway, succeeded by Thomas Graham in 1851.

The fourteenth district held court in Nevada City; when Sierra moved to the seventeenth, the district court returned to Downieville and Governor John B. Weller appointed Judge Peter Van Clief to the bench.

[4]: 427 A committee of three was appointed by the Court of Sessions on August 3, 1853, to prepare specifications for the county jail; their report, submitted on August 18, was subject to further changes because of "the numerous criminals whom it was highly important should be temporarily deprived of their liberty" and on October 14, the court tabled the plans and appropriated $500 for a temporary jail.

Webber for $12,975;[4]: 437  the jail was completed by August and the courthouse by December,[5] but it was not occupied until May 6, 1855, when the county board of supervisors accepted the buildings.

[4]: 437  The Sierra County Sheriff's Gallows was erected next to the courthouse for the hanging of James O'Neal on November 26, 1885, then dismantled and stored in the attic until 1927, when it was rediscovered and reinstalled despite not being "conducive to happy thoughts".

[6] The 1854 courthouse was destroyed by a fire on September 20, 1947; it was first discovered half an hour after midnight by the sheriff, who had living quarters in the south end of the building.

It is the first California courthouse jointly operated by two superior court jurisdictions: those of Sierra and Plumas counties.