The only woman ever executed in Arizona, Eva Dugan was hanged for the murder of her former employee. Her early court appeals were held at the Historic Courthouse in Courtroom 1.
The Pima County Historic Courthouse
About the Courthouse
The Pima County Historic Courthouse is among Tucson’s most beloved landmarks. Designed by architect Roy Place, this iconic Spanish Colonial Revival-styled structure was built in 1929 and remained in service for an 86-year span during which time it served as the backdrop for numerous wedding proceedings and became home to several County departments.
In 1978, this building obtained its “Historic” designation from the National Register of Historic Places. It was dubbed the “most outstanding Spanish Colonial Revival building in Arizona” with its “elegant blue-tiled dome” recorded as the most prominent feature. Rightfully so, as this iconic mosaic dome has become one of the most recognized structures in the region, including the official Pima County logo.
Over the years, the Courthouse has had many tenants, including the Sheriff’s Department, the School Superintendent’s Office, Superior Court and most recently the Consolidated Justice Court, Assessor, Recorder and Treasurer’s Offices.
Currently, it’s headquarters for Pima County Attractions & Tourism, Pima County Administration, Visit Tucson, our Southern Arizona Heritage and Visitor Center and the University of Arizona Alfie Norville Gem and Mineral Museum.
Law & Order at the Historic Courthouse
Most people know about our Historic Courthouse because of America’s Public Enemy No. 1, otherwise known as John Dillinger. In 1934, the bank-robbing celebrity gangster was captured in Tucson and held in the facility along with three of his gang members. People were able to pay a fee to walk by their cells before they were extradited. They were only here for four days, but during that short time, the iconic Courthouse made headlines across the nation.
Dillinger and his gang were arraigned at the Pima County Courthouse in an upstairs courtroom, later known as “Courtroom 8.” You might have seen it in the 1980’s comedy “Stir Crazy” starring Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder.
Those who never saw it on the big screen will soon have a chance to see it in person. In recent Courthouse restoration efforts, this courtroom has been preserved and rehabilitated to the 1930’s Dillinger days.
Noteworthy Court Proceedings
1930
1932
Clayton Adkins was sentenced to life in prison for kidnapping prominent banker Gordon Sawyer and keeping him in a dry well for a hefty ransom of $60,000.
1934
Notorious bank robber John Dillinger and his gang were captured in Tucson following the Hotel Congress fire. They were held at the Pima County Jail.
1954
Actor Clark Gable was found guilty of negligence for crossing the highway and crashing his 1952 Cadillac convertible into a DeSoto driven by Mary Lemme. The courtroom where his proceedings took place was at capacity.
1959
Interracial couple Henry Oyama and Mary Ann Jordan sued Pima County for the right to marry, then prohibited by the state's 1865 miscegenation law. The Arizona Supreme Court ruled against them, however a follow-up Pima County Superior Court ruling declared the law unconstitutional, and the Oyamas married on Dec. 28, 1959.
1991
Johnny Depp plead guilty to speeding in the same courtroom as John Dillinger, who he ironically portrayed several years later in the 2009 movie, "Public Enemies."
For more details on these and other high-profile cases that took place at the Historic Courthouse, be sure to visit the Law & Order display next time you’re at our Visitor Center.
Hollywood comes to visit
Over the years, several celebrities have graced the courthouse with their presence, including Clark Gable, the “King of Hollywood” who in January 1954, spent the day in the Courthouse as a defendant in a $40,000 damage lawsuit. His trial packed the courtroom. All 77 seats were filled and some folks even stood in the back along the wall. Throughout the day, female courthouse employees reportedly used their breaks to catch a glimpse of the star.
Another actor to visit the courthouse on “personal business” was Johnny Depp. In 1991, Depp was in the area filming a movie called “Arrowtooth Waltz” and got pulled over going 93 miles per hour on I-10. Coincidentally, Depp pled guilty to speeding in the same courtroom where he would later play John Dillinger in the 2009 movie, “Public Enemies.”
Other celebrities who have reportedly set foot here include Steve Martin and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. However, despite our rummaging through old newspapers, we have not been able to find the reason for their visit.
Speaking of Hollywood, this historic landmark has been the backdrop to a few blockbuster films, including the 1956 “A Kiss Before Dying,” starring Robert Wagner and Joanne Woodward, and the 1976 movie “A Star is Born,” starring Barbara Streisand and Kris Kristofferson.
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