United States Court House, Federal courthouse in Downtown Los Angeles, United States

The United States Court House is a federal courthouse in downtown Los Angeles built in the 1930s with the Streamline Moderne style. Its horizontal lines and curved corners create a clean, forward-looking appearance, with spaces for legal proceedings and public observation on multiple floors.

Built between 1937 and 1940 by the Federal Public Works Administration, this was Los Angeles's third federal building, replacing an earlier one razed on the same site. It housed the federal district court until 2016, when the courts moved to the First Street Courthouse; since 2018 the county Superior Court has leased its courtrooms. In 2012 it was named a National Historic Landmark as the site of Mendez v. Westminster.

This courthouse serves as a gathering place where Los Angeles residents and visitors witness legal proceedings and engage with the federal justice system. The building itself speaks to a moment when the city wanted to express modern values and optimism through architecture.

Visitors must pass through security screening and present valid identification to access the public areas. Plan ahead for security procedures, especially during busy court hours.

This building was constructed as a Depression-era project, embodying the belief that new public structures could stimulate the economy. This link between judicial function and economic hope gives the courthouse a dual purpose beyond its legal role.