Miscellaneous

New Courthouses All Around

By Anne Skove, Esq.

A new federal courthouse sounds like good news for Yuma, AZ. After years of planning and wishing, several million dollars "has been found." (That must be what Bill Gates says when he cleans his couch cushions.) The new courthouse will mean safer facilities, more jobs, and -- hopefully -- redevelopment in the downtown area. See Federal Court Is Coming to Yuma, Joyce Lobeck, Yuma Sun (June 29, 2008).

Meanwhile, up in Green Bay, U.S. District Court Judge William Griesbach would like to stop spending your tax dollars on rent: "We're renting space all over the place. Doesn't it make more sense from the federal government standpoint to move forward on [finding a permanent courthouse] rather than paying rent all over the place? It would benefit the city and seems to me it ought to benefit the federal government by having a location with these federal agencies located all in one place." A former law office is used as a jury room, and temporary cells have been installed (sounds unsafe to us). The temporary fixes do not meet federal guidelines. See Green Bay's Federal Courthouse Could See Changes, Corinthia McCoy, Green Bay Press-Gazette (June 30, 2008).

Finally, does your courthouse have a medical clinic? It is hoped that the El Paso County Courthouse will have a clinic for use by county employees and the community. Proponents say it would be efficient, convenient, and promote good health. See County to Discuss Courthouse Clinic Project, Erica Molina Johnson, El Paso Times (June 30, 2008).

Full post as published by court-o-rama.org on June 30, 2008 (boomark / email).