Courthouse architecture and Catholic legal theory

The Wall Stree Journal reports here that "[t]he federal agency that builds courthouses, border stations and other federal buildings is set to name a new chief architect, a move that could usher in a return to a more traditional type of architecture in the government's $10 billion construction program."  The new chief architect is said to be Thomas Gordon Smith, a professor in Notre Dame's School of Architecture and a colleague of MOJ-friend Philip Bess. 

Here's a quote from the story:

Others are worried federal architecture will lose its cutting-edge focus. Henry Smith-Miller, of Smith-Miller + Hawkinson, a New York firm, which designed a border station under construction in Champlain, N.Y., said he finds Mr. Smith's appointment "deeply troubling." He called Mr. Smith's traditional views "anti-progressive." It "picks up the imperial nature of Roman architecture, which was in service to the empire rather than service to democracy," says Mr. Smith-Miller.

Ah, yes -- "cutting-edge" and Modern architecture are so democratic . . . .  The common man just loves this stuff.  Here, by the way, is a post from Concurring Opinions with lots of pictures of new courthouses.  And, here is a post from Concurring Opinions with lots of pictures of old courthouses.  Advantage:  Old.