Carl B. Stokes U.S. Courthouse
801 W. Superior Ave.
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
This classic, yet contemporary Carl B. Stokes U.S. Courthouse stands 430 feet tall overlooking the Cuyahoga River and Cleveland’s Central Business District. The first courthouse to be built in Cleveland in 100 years, the building was named after Carl B. Stokes, the first African-American Democrat to serve in the Ohio House of Representatives and the first to serve as Mayor of Cleveland. Opened in 2002, the Stokes Courthouse features 16 courtrooms and judge’s chambers and is home to the 37-foot-tall Cleveland Venus sculpture by Jim Dine.
Property Manager: Kathy Lease
Public Hours: The building is open to the public Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (except federal holidays).
For building service calls or more information, contact the Stokes Courthouse Service Desk using the information in the top right box of this page.
Parking and Public Transportation Several public parking facilities are available in the vicinity of the Stokes Courthouse, including two lots directly adjacent to the building plaza managed by USA Parking. The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority is easily accessible via pedway connection to Tower City Center.
Building Amenities
- ATM - 7th Floor
- Cafeteria (open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m.– 3:30 p.m.) - 7th Floor
- Conference Room and Auditorium with Stadium Seating for 106 (contact Stokes Service Desk for reservations) - 7th Floor
- Enclosed pedway connection to the Tower City Center, offering shopping, dining, hotel amenities, and public transportation
- Fitness Center - Lower Level 3
- High-tech security cameras and monitors
- Nurse Clinic (open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.– 2 p.m.) - Lower Level 1
- Overnight Delivery Drop Boxes and Outgoing Mail Drop Box - 1st Floor
- Separate corridors and elevators for judges, court officers, prisoners, and the public
Key Tenants The building houses the 6th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, U.S. District Court and Clerk of the Court, U.S. Attorneys, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Probation and Pre-trial Services, the Executive Office of Immigration Review, the Department of Justice Anti-Trust Division, and the Circuit Court Library. The latest customer satisfaction survey (2010) resulted in a 91% "more than satisfactory" rating (four or five on a five-point scale).
History and Architectural Features The architecture of the Stokes Courthouse is meant to project the prominence of justice in democracy, as well as the dignity and traditions of the U.S. Courts and civic pride associated with federal courthouses throughout the country. The limestone façade of the building relates to other neighboring structures, yet it stands out with its cornice and 37-foot-tall bronze sculpture that towers over the building's Huron Road entrance. Meanwhile, the inside of the Stokes Courthouse is fitted with stone to accent the marble and terrazzo floors throughout the building. Bronze door and window frames and African mahogany woodwork add to further accentuate the courthouse's elegant interior.
Art in Architecture Jim Dine was commissioned to create the artwork, Cleveland Venus, through GSA’s Art in Architecture Program in the spring of 2003. The armless, headless statue is Dine’s interpretation of the Venus de Milo.
The shortcut for this page is www.gsa.gov/stokesct.
