ALBEMARLE COUNTY COURT HOUSE
The first Charlottesville Court House, built in 1762, was of wood, and reproduced that of Henrico County; the cost 375 pounds, ten shillings. It stood near the site of the Confederate statue and faced down Court—now Fifth—Street.
In that small structure both Jefferson and Monroe, as fledgling lawyers, practiced that profession. Both were youthful magistrates—although public life early broke this tie for both of them. There are no records of Mr. Jefferson’s sitting on the bench, although he did take depositions. Mr. Monroe sat regularly for six months in 1799, just previous to becoming Governor.