Cannot attest to the level of corruption of the judges or how fair the court is, but the outside grounds were going under improvements which is a nice sign for the town. The memorial to the Confederate soldiers lost in the war stands as a sentinel on the grounds adorned with a wreath, and has no plans to be moved elsewhere. The courthouse itself looks pretty good for its age, since the first one was raided by the Union army in 1865 and remodelled in 1901. The August terms of the NC state Supreme Court were held here from 1847-1861 as the sign says. Worth a visit if in Morganton, especially post-improvements. Cheers.