The Courthouse provided public evidence of the state's commitment to justice. Early 18th century Courthouses included barracks, jail, and law courts. Later architecture minimized the jails and barracks, focusing on the grandeur of the colonnades and the visual impact of the structure. The French Palais de Justice, built during this century, was described by one critic as, "Outside... a colossus, inside a monster. It wants to be immense, and it is."