Makeover Coming for Morristown's 'Lady Justice'

Morris County officials say a renovation is in the works for the sculpture of Lady Justice that has stood outside the Morris County Courthouse in Morristown for nearly 200 years, the Daily Record reports.

Problems with the statue reportedly became apparent after Superstorm Sandy in October 201, when a sheriff’s officer found a piece of Justice’s scales on the ground, the article said. Art conservation firm Aegis Restauro LLC took the statue down in April and its inspection and cleaning showed bug infestation and rotted wood, among other issues. The 300-pound statue, created by New York sculptor A.W. Jones in 1828, now stands in a courthouse office while county officials, the Morris County Heritage Commission and the Morris County Historic Preservation Trust devise a plan to preserve and restore it.

The county is expected to seek Requests for Proposals from restoration experts. Also being considered is the possibility of building a replica to stand outdoors so that the original Jones piece can be preserved and displayed inside the courthouse, the article continued.