Visitors react to opening of the new Hidalgo County Courthouse

An announcement displayed at the entrance greeting residents at the Hidalgo County Courthouse Monday, March 31, 2025, in Edinburg. (Delcia Lopez | dlopez@themonitor.com)

EDINUBRG — Opening day finally arrived Monday as the new Hidalgo County Courthouse opened its doors to residents, staff, law enforcement and those with judicial business.

While entering the courthouse, several people were overheard expressing their satisfaction with the new building.

The enthusiasm was palpable not only among visitors but also those who work at the courthouse, such as Hidalgo County District Clerk Laura Hinojosa.

“People are excited and we are so proud to be part of this moment in history for Hidalgo County,” Hinojosa said.

After passing through security in the new building, visitors will see a wall of monitors directing them where to go — much like at an airport.

The screens display a destination, such a County Court at Law No. 1, and which floor it’s on, to make it easier for visitors to find. One side of the screens are in English while the others are in Spanish.

Defense Attorney O. Rene Flores described the opening as a “long-time coming.”

The new courthouse had been in the making since late 2017 with construction beginning in 2018. It was originally slated to open in 2021, but was set back for various reasons, including the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I think it’ll be a lot easier for the attorneys, it’ll be a lot easier for the people that are coming to the courthouse, especially jury selection and so forth,” Flores said. “I haven’t seen the whole building but it looks beautiful.”

It’s hard to deny the new accommodations aren’t attractive, but some floors present visitors with something just as beautiful, if not more so.

If one were to head to the seventh floor — where half of the district courts are located — and walk to the north side of the building, they’ll be greeted with an incredible view of Edinburg.

The new building also features a cafeteria, which wasn’t in service as of Monday morning. The area includes a warm waiting room with large windows looking out on the outdoors and the old courthouse, which is set to be demolished to make more room for parking.

A hallway at the Hidalgo County Courthouse is filled with people Monday, March 31, 2025, in Edinburg. (Delcia Lopez | dlopez@themonitor.com)

On the walk to the courthouse, a man was seen walking across N. 10th Avenue with a cane. He seemed in high spirits as he asked for directions to the new courthouse, but he did remark on the lack of parking in the area.

Flores, the defense attorney, remarked the new courthouse’s design seems to have streamlined the process of getting people where they need to go.

While the first floor includes a lobby with a cafeteria, directory, information desk and offices, the second floor holds a law library, jury assembly area and offices for the 13th Court of Appeals.

People will also find a set of escalators that only go up to the third floor, if one would rather use those than wait for an elevator.

The third floor contains the auxiliary courts, child protection court, master courts, probate court and the Hidalgo County Community Supervision and Correctional Department, while in the fourth and fifth floors people will find the county courts.

And, last but not least, the sixth and seventh floors hold the district courts and the most number of people as they gather for hearings.

The post Visitors react to opening of the new Hidalgo County Courthouse appeared first on MyRGV.com.