Courthouse entrances soon to be blocked by Main St. construction
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“We discussed holding court in different places but we realized it would be very hard to coordinate a change like that,” said General Sessions Judge Larry Ross. “We also had security concerns, plus we would have to move endless files and things like that so we decided to tough it out right here. Bottom line is there is nowhere else to go.”
The tough part Ross referred to will come around March when Main Street construction will take over the south side of the courthouse, the side facing Main Street, as well as points directly to the east and west. The construction zone will leave only two entrances into the building, those being on the north side of the courthouse on Morford Street. Ross, who met with Main Street planners last week along with other court officials, said they were not told how long the inconvenience will last.
Ross generally hears about 50 to 80 cases on an average day. However, the number can be as high as 150 cases.
Circuit Judge Bart Stanley also has daily court. While not drawing as many cases, Stanley routinely conducts arraignment and criminal case days which bring in numerous defendants.
“What some people may not think about is that when you have 30 defendants, you may have 30 victims too, so that’s 60 right there,” Ross said. “Then you have court staff, officers, and anyone else with business there so there is a lot of traffic in and out of the courthouse on an average day.”
Ross said an arrangement will be made for a place for deputies to unload prisoners for criminal court so they will not have to lead them a long way and heighten the security risk.
While saying there will be a few headaches this spring, Ross said he believes court employees and people with business at the courthouse will make do.
“The good thing is this is something we should all benefit from later,” Ross said.