San Diego Superior Court Hall of Justice

The stained glass windows overlooking the central atrium in the Hall of Justice carry a history that curves back upon itself, much like the stylized foliage that graces so much Victorian art. The windows hark back to the late 19th century, when the San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted to order $2,000 worth of art glass from John Mallon of San Francisco to decorate the 1889 courthouse. That sum purchased 42 stained glass windows depicting the artist's version of the Great Seals of the 42 states then in the Union.