A courthouse is the actual physical building that houses a court. There are different types of courts and different types of courthouses. Not every courthouse has the same architecture or design. In fact, there are many different designs. However, in order to be a true courthouse, judgments of the law must be made inside the building.
Although judgments of the law are made through conversations between judges, juries, lawyers, defendants, and plaintiffs, there still needs to be a place for these conversations to take place. Courthouses are where these proceedings occur. A typical layout for a courthouse may include a large room with an area for the jury, a seating area for spectators, a bench for the judge, several tables for the defense and the prosecution, a witness stand, and a floor where attorneys speak.