A second law courts was built from 1922 to 1925 in front of the first that did not match anymore the needs of the city which was taking more expansion. Beside the archives were endangered to be destroyed by an eventual fire. Three architects created it but the Palace is named according to the third one only, Palace Ernest Cormier. It was build in Neo-classical style with columns on the facade remembering the Church La Madeleine of Paris. Justice was still giving the image of the temple, of worship. The criminal cases were transferred from the first palace to the second one. The two buildings were linked by an underground corridor. In addition to the courtroom, there were also dormitories for jurors, premises reserved to the police, and of course cells for prisoners and rooms for judges and lawyers.
On the magnificent bronze door six bas-reliefs illustrate justice through the ages. On one of them a Latin expression can be read: “Dura lex sed lex”, otherwise said, the law is hard but it is the law. On the fronton another Latin sentence can be read “Who violates the law look in vain for it assistance”. Some criminals seem to get away with...
The building has had several vocations. As the third law courts building was completed in 1972, the second one hosted the national archives of Quebec. Then the Conservatory of music moved there as well as the conservatoire of drama. Finally, Justice came back. The Court of appeal of Quebec, after appropriate renovations, took possession of the building.
