By SUSAN WHEELDON, CJ Staff Writer
Officials believe when the new Pulaski County Judicial Center is built it will help the efficiency of the courts run smoother for all parties concerned.
An official groundbreaking ceremony was held in downtown Somerset yesterday, where court officials and dignitaries gathered in honor of the judicial center that is being built, which will support modern infrastructure, will have more space and a higher amount of security.
The approximately 78,000-square-foot Pulaski County Judicial Center will include circuit, district and family courts, judges offices, the circuit clerk’s office, probation and parole and those things directly related to the court system.
“It’s important for citizens who need access to the courts to have adequate facilities, so business of the courts can be done in an efficient manner,” said Chief Justice John Minton.
Justice Dan Venters pointed out that while the building the court facilities resides in at this time was only built in 1975, which doesn’t seem like a long time in the life of a building, in reality many things have changed in the area since that time..
He said practically every school has been built or expanded, Somerset City Hall has a new building, many fire stations that didn’t exist and a hospital was built and has had expansions since that time.
“If you wonder why we need a courthouse,” said Venters, “I think the question is why we didn’t need it a long time ago.”
Minton said former Chief Justice Joe Lambert had the vision to upgrade courthouses across the state in the 90’s and after research found that courthouses throughout the state had deficiencies such as electrical needs and safety and security which were being compromised.
Among the more prominent features of the consolidated judicial complex will be a security system, including metal detectors located at a single public entry point through which all visitors must pass.
Minton said Lambert made a plan was made to update facilities, which were most in need in the order most needed.
Pulaski County was approved for authorization of funds for the judicial center in 2005 and funding was approved in 2006. For this happening, Minton especially acknowledged the legislative delegation. In 2005, along with Pulaski County there were 17 other counties that received authorization for upgraded facilities, 17 in 2005 and five in 2008 and Minton said he believed this was by a bipartisan effort.
Pulaski County Judge-Executive Barty Bullock said he believes it is really great to finally see the center becoming a reality since work was being done towards the center even before he took office.
“We’re anxiously waiting for the completion of the judicial center,” said Bullock.
Lambert said following the ceremony, to find out what the needs were courthouses needs were analyzed with 120 items, so where courthouses facilities were most needed was very objective, he said, and not politically motivated.
“I thought it was necessary to build new courthouses or the judiciary function was not going to be served,” said Lambert following the ceremony, as to why he made a plan for new facilities.
Lambert said work started in the late around 1999 and got fully underway by 2002 on updating courthouses throughout the state.
District Judge Katie Wood said she is incredibly excited about seeing the process of the judicial center underway.
“The District Court is incredible crowded especially on Monday and Thursday and I believe without a doubt this will alleviate that burden for anyone who has business to in District Court,” said Wood.
Wood said district court often has 300 to 400 people on the docket on Monday and Thursday’s and everyone usually can’t fit in the courtroom, which makes the court situation unbearable for people she believes.
Meanwhile, Circuit Judge Jeffrey Burdette said more courtrooms will make scheduling easier.
When the Pulaski County Courthouse was built there was only one circuit and one district judge, while there are now three circuit judges and two district judges.
“It will help circuit court better serve Pulaski County citizenry in a even more timely and judicious manner,” said Burdette. The judicial complex will be located in the area of Market Street and South Maple Street area in downtown Somerset.
Construction work began on the project several weeks ago, by D.W. Wilburn Inc. who is the general contractor for the project. The Administrative Office of the Courts estimates the center will be completed in October 2010.
