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THE SUN
Courthouse officials prefer new wing over new building
By NAN PATTON EHRBRIGHT
HANCOCK COUNTY BUREAU CHIEF
■ BAY ST. LOUIS — Hancock County grand jury members have been shuffled from pillar to post in the crowded county courthouse until a county grand jury has said, “Enough!” The group that convened in January is recommending that a new government building — which would include the judicial system — be built at the county fairgrounds site.
The Chancery Court and Circuit Court share the courtroom on the second floor of the courthouse. At times, when Chancery Court is in session, Circuit Court business must be bounced over to the Board of Supervisors’ meeting room next door.
When court is in session and the supervisors meet, jurors must be shifted again to the law library on the third floor.
More than once, the supervisors
have just moved their meetings to the Youth Court building across the street from the post office.
The jury submitted its final report, including the suggestion for a new building, to Senior Circuit Judge Kosta N. Vlahos on Tuesday.
County officials admit that there is a need for more space for court business, but they would prefer to add a new wing to the courthouse.
“There’s no doubt we definitely need more space,” Sheriff Ronnie Peterson said. “But I think you might get into some legal questions (in moving the courts).”
Board attorney Gerald C. Gex was out of town Wednesday and unavailable to comment.
Board President Ronald E. Cuevas of District 2 said he understood that the Youth Court building had been designated as an annex of the courthouse so that Chancery Court and the supervisors could legally meet there.
He said, however, that an addition would cost less than a new building and that might be brought up within the next year or two.
Circuit Court Pamela T. Metzler said that she, Peterson, Chancery Court Clerk E. Michael Necaise and Vlahos often have discussed the space crunch.
“We agreed that the best temporary solution, which would last possibly 10 years, would be to add a wing to the courthouse and make a small chancery courtroom that could also be used as a jury room,” she said.
Besides another courtroom, Metzler said, officials need more storage space and a couple of witness rooms.
“We should not have witnesses for the prosecution and witnesses for the defense, especially in highly controversial cases, bunched together in the hall where they can hear what goes on in the courtroom,” she said.
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