After the initial move of relocating the magistrate court from the first to the third floor of the Greene County Courthouse in Jefferson, renovations to the space will now take place.
The Greene County Board of Supervisors recently approved a $26,231 contract with Realwood Productions to make improvements to the smaller courtroom. County Attorney Thomas Laehn talks about some of the improvements to the current space.
“We’re going to build a new bench for the judge, make sure there’s a spot for a court reporter. The former courtroom on the first floor did not have a space for a court reporter. Usually a magistrate judge just tapes proceedings. But ever so often we do need a court reporter in the room. The new magistrate courtroom will have some features that were lacking in the old one.”
Supervisor Chair John Muir shares his thoughts on the impression he had with the current look of the magistrate courtroom.
“If you were doing your home taxes and you set up a couple of card tables in your living room, it was embarrassing. People having their cases heard had to wonder how seriously they were being taken and the judges, I know, were uncomfortable with sitting behind a folding table. As of now it really wasn’t acceptable and shouldn’t have been to anybody.”
Plans include to model the magistrate court off of the main courtroom. The contract stipulates the renovations will be done by the end of October.