For the first time in seven years, the front doors of the Washington County Courthouse are back in business. On Wednesday, the historic main entrance on South Main Street officially reopened, complete with towering new doors and AI-powered weapons screening that signal this is not your granddad’s courthouse security line. County leaders, judges, and community members marked the moment with a ribbon-cutting in downtown Washington.
The portico restoration brought the courthouse’s primary entrance back to life after it was closed in 2019. What started as a fix for crumbling granite turned into a deep dive into the building’s bones, where crews uncovered rusted steel beams and other structural problems. The surprise damage stretched the work into a seven-year project that cost roughly $3 million, according to WPXI.
New Doors and AI-Powered Screening
The facelift included retiring the weathered Brazilian mahogany doors and installing six new 10-foot entrances, fabricated and fitted by Cecil Township firm StoneMile under an almost $200,000 contract approved last year. Inside the revamped entrance, visitors now walk through Evolv Express weapons-screening units, with an Evolv eXpedite baggage X-ray backing them up at both the main and side doors. The systems are the first AI-assisted screening devices deployed in a Pennsylvania courthouse, Herald-Standard reported.
Regulatory Scrutiny
The futuristic setup is not without controversy. In November 2024, the Federal Trade Commission filed a complaint accusing the manufacturer of overstating how well the systems detect weapons while ignoring harmless items. The agency cited cases in which knives were missed, and false alarms climbed, according to a press release from the Federal Trade Commission.
What Visitors Will See at the Door
County officials say the technology is supposed to speed up lines rather than turn the entrance into an airport-style slog. The scanners are designed so people can keep everyday items in their pockets while the system flags weapons. Deputy Madison Klempay told WPXI that common items such as coffee cups, keys, and cellphones should not set off alarms, saying, “your coffee cup is not gonna set it off,” and noted that two deputies will staff the entrance so the machines work alongside human screening rather than replace it.
Leaders Talk Access and Safety
Judges and county commissioners are casting the project as a two-for-one: preserving a historic public building while tightening security. Washington County Court of Common Pleas President Judge Valarie Costanzo said the reopening “symbolizes not only a return to tradition, but a renewed commitment to openness and accessibility to all who seek justice,” while commissioners pointed to the upgraded entrance as a boost for downtown visibility, according to the Herald-Standard.
Planning a Visit
The courthouse’s main entrance at 1 S Main Street is now open to the public following the ceremony. Visitors are advised to build in a little extra time for the new screening setup and to check the Washington County Courts website for jury notices and schedule updates, as posted by the Washington County Courts.
