You will know you have arrived when you spot the building's official seal, a distinct circular emblem featuring a proud bald eagle grasping olive branches behind a striped shield, surrounded by bold white lettering. Welcome to the United States District Court for the District of Vermont. Take a glance at your phone to see a map outlining this federal district, which holds jurisdiction over the entire state with locations in Brattleboro, Rutland, and right here in Burlington.
This city has constantly adapted to face the complex realities of modern society, shifting its institutions to meet new challenges. Inside these walls, quiet authority wrestles with chilling crimes and profound questions of civil rights.
In 2025, this courthouse hosted a trial that felt more like a dark thriller. Prosecutors alleged that a man named Serhat Gumrukcu financed a plot to kill his former business partner, Gregg Davis, over a multimillion dollar oil deal that had gone terribly wrong. The hired hitman, Jerry Banks, took the stand here and calmly explained to the jury how he lured Davis out of his home on a January night in 2018.
Banks was disguised as a United States Marshal, wearing a tactical vest, flashing red and blue vehicle lights, and carrying a fake arrest warrant for financial crimes. Picture being pulled from your home by a man wearing a badge. How easily could any of us be deceived by the sheer illusion of authority? After placing the victim in handcuffs under the guise of a lawful arrest, Banks drove him to a remote area and ended his life.
But justice here takes many forms. In 2020, Judge William K Sessions the Third delivered a major victory for prisoners in a case called West versus Smith. He certified a class action lawsuit... a type of legal case where one person sues on behalf of a much larger, affected group. Inmates argued the state was denying them access to expensive, life saving Hepatitis C medication to save money. The plaintiffs argued this violated the Eighth Amendment, the constitutional rule forbidding cruel and unusual punishment.
Sometimes, the people upholding the law find themselves entangled in it. Look at your screen to see Christina Nolan, who served as United States Attorney here from 2017 to 2021, placing a high priority on prosecuting illegal firearms cases. In a striking twist, security personnel at the Brattleboro courthouse discovered a handgun on her during a routine screening in 2025. She later declined a court diversion program... an alternative legal path designed to keep offenders out of the traditional justice system.
The scale of human ambition, the demand for fairness, and the constant reshaping of right and wrong play out daily in the rooms beside you. Yet, long before federal courts anchored this community, it was faith that provided the ultimate laws of the land. We are now going to explore those deep historical roots. The Unitarian Church is just a three minute walk away.
