Dick Williams designed the building in the mid 1960s, it was then constructed in 1967. Professor Williams derived the design from Norman castles built in the 13th, 14th, and 15th centuries. He took into consideration the sensitivity of the cases the judges would be discussing, therefore, designed a structure to meet those specifications. One of the personal goals Professor Williams wanted to achieve throughout this process was to design a building that would be "hard to date."
The Second Appellate Court Building is nearly one hundred percent intact with all of the original furnishings.