The Old Session Court building is located at Jalan Raja, Alor Star. The site of this old session court was originally the site of a small mosque (surau) owned by a religious man, Tuan Guru Haji Salleh, who originated from Penaga, Seberang Perai.

Tuan Guru Haji Salleh had once opened his religious settlement in that area. He had also served as adviser to the late HRH Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin Mukarram Shah (1854 -1879) and appointed a religious teacher in the palace. This small mosque became the place for trials on cases related to Islamic Religious Law such as those pertaining to marriages, divorces and others.

The Session Court was built on the site of this small mosque in 1931 when Kedah was under British patronage. The architectural design of this building is similar to the High Court building that has Roman architectural characteristics.