Palace of Justice of Colombia, Modern judicial headquarters in Bolívar Square, Bogotá, Colombia

The Palace of Justice of Colombia is a long, low horizontal block of pale stone or concrete raised on a stepped base with wide stairs. Its facade is divided into a left wing, a recessed central section with tall square columns framing a deep entrance, and a right wing. Rows of rectangular windows run across the upper level, with larger grilled openings below, and a flat roof caps the structure. It stands across a paved plaza.

The current building was constructed in 2004 and replaced its predecessor, which was destroyed in 1985 during the M-19 guerrilla attack. This marked an important moment for rebuilding institutions following one of the darkest chapters in Colombia's recent past.

The entrance displays a preserved plaque featuring words from General Francisco de Paula Santander that emphasize the connection between law and freedom. This inscription reminds visitors of the foundational principles underlying Colombia's legal system.

The building stands on the Plaza de Bolívar, facing the cathedral and the Capitolio Nacional, so it is reached on foot from the Catedral Primada and Museo del Oro areas of La Candelaria. It is a working courthouse, not a tourist site: the four courts sit inside and entry is controlled, so visitors see the stepped base, the columned entrance and the Santander plaque from the plaza.

During the 1985 siege, military forces used the label 'especiales' to identify civilians who were later subjected to interrogation and disappearance. This somber detail illustrates how profoundly the attack affected both the institutions and the people involved.