Courthouse Steps: A Splendid Echo Of The California Gold Rush

  Since architects designed Sacramento's Robert T. Matsui U.S.Courthouse and builders opened it in 1999, corporate lawyers, federal litigants and accused crooks of all stripes enter the front doors via a California Gold Rush fantasy on the outdoor plaza. Credit artist Tom Otterness, commissioned to provide public art for federal courthouses in Sacramento, Portland, Los Angeles and Minnesota. (Don't tell anyone: Doesn't he bear resemblance to Garth, the sidekick of Wayne Campbell in the 1992 movie, "Wayne's World?)"

   I have roamed this weird little critter-land for years, coming and going for courtroom dramas as a reporter for The AP and The Sacramento Bee. Now that I work a few blocks away I recently returned with a camera  to capture some of the little scenes (alongside this dad below).

Check out the little figurine behind dad's right leg above.
Below, you see she's the real photographer.

Forty-Niner!

Gold River

Salmon!

What I also like about this plaza are the scattered nuggets of wisdom about the law. The artist embedded dozens of sayings into the pavement, making a counterargument to our usual cynicism about lawyers. Here's a few favorites.

Here's the view looking up from all this: Nice.