For 30 years Lady Justice’s sword has been leaning in a corner in the storage room in the Polk County courthouse. It is believed that the sword fell from atop the courthouse in the early 1990s.
The sword was brought out from time to time to show to groups of school children visiting the courthouse, but other than that it has been resting in the storage room for 30 plus years.
In November of 2024, it was used as a mold to create the sword that is currently in Lady Justice’s hand atop the courthouse. When it was returned, all agreed that the original sword needed to be on display.
“I spoke with Tim Scott and he was excited to build a case to display the sword,” said Polk County Recorder Carol Poindexter. Poindexter points out that you can see the bullet hole and damage from weather and time.
The new sword in Lady Justice's hand was created by Mark Hood. Hood had also crafted the scales of justice, but they were lost in a spring storm in April of 2025.
“We don’t know where her original scales are located, but are very thankful to have her original sword protected and on display here at the courthouse,” said Poindexter.
