Press Release

Oakland County's Lady Justice To Be Restored

Pontiac Michigan, November 13, 2008 Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson announced today that the Lady Justice Statue, which first adorned the dome of the old Oakland County Courthouse when it was located in downtown Pontiac in 1904, will be taken down from its current location at 1200 North Telegraph Road on the south plaza of the Service Center, on Friday November 14th at 1:00 p.m. and placed in storage.

"The statues scales were torn loose during a storm this past winter and a crack developed in the Lady's extended arm," said Steve Stanford, Facilities Engineering Project Coordinator. The county is currently soliciting proposals to restore or replace the statue.  Firms interested in submitting a proposal for the project should contact Oakland County Purchasing.

When the old courthouse was demolished in 1962, Lady Justice was put in storage until 1983 when she went on display outside the current courthouse.  The statue received a facelift in 2001, which included additional internal supports, auto body fillers and an epoxy "faux" finish.  The hollow statue is made of lead alloy which has aged over time.

Restoration efforts will be directed by the county's Department of Facilities Management and supported in part by donations from the legal community with assistance from the Oakland County Bar Association.

People interested in contributing to the restoration project should send their donations to Penny Knope, Facilities Management, One Public Works Drive, Bldg. 95W, Waterford MI 48328. 

For media inquires only, please contact Bob Dustman, Oakland County Media and Communications Officer, at (248) 858-1048 or dustmanb@oakgov.com.

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