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The courthouse rotunda is dominated by a monumental, golden scale of justice, which serves as an unambiguous emblem of the building's function.  The hands at each end of the balance indicate that justice and the law are not only abstract concepts, but also active and participatory human endeavors.  The elliptical shapes of the scales echo the shape of the rotunda, and thus provide a formal unity between the art and its surrounding architecture. The 23-karat gold surface of the scale references the importance of the California Gold Rush to this city.

Beneath the scale are twelve marble chairs, representing the twelve members of a jury. Acclaimed poet Rita Dove composed thought-provoking inscriptions for each ceremonial chair. Her words comment in part upon the roles and responsibilities of the individual within society, and the complicated relationships that exist between people. These themes will provide an inexhaustible reservoir of ideas for contemplation by visitors to the courthouse.  For example, one inscription reads, "I'm not anyone more / than anyone else. / Did my job, then / looked into / their eyes. / What had I / become?"  Other passages challenge readers to ponder issues such as fate, identity, and accountability.