Inaugurated in 1856, the old courthouse subscribed to the very sober neo-classic tradition typical of the first half of the 19th century. The 1925 version (Ernest-Cormier building) featured a return to classic simplicity with an imposing colonnade. From 1925 until the 1970s, the old courthouse handled civil issues while the new one dealt with criminal matters. The modern courthouse at 1 Notre-Dame East now handles all cases while the Ernest-Cormier building houses the Québec Court of Appeal.
