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Natchez residents wait inside the Adams County Justice Court courtroom Wednesday afternoon. Justice Court Judge Charlie Vess said that the courtroom has become cramped due to a high number of cases.
Justice is blind, but crowded
Published Saturday, August 23, 2008
NATCHEZ — With a massive caseload and small courtroom the Adams County Justice Court is rapidly running out of space.
Adams County Justice Court Judge Charlie Vess said the increased amount of cases heard in justice court has left the small courtroom completely cramped.
And not only is the courtroom cramped but the crowds are spilling out into the hall, foyer and even stairwell, Vess said.
“It’s totally inadequate for the volume of work we’re doing,” he said.
Vess said the court is so crowded that it could be a threat to public safety.
On Monday, Vess appeared before the Adams County Board of Supervisors to ask them to consider a budget increase that could ultimately fund a move for the court.
Vess said he has visited the county’s old unemployment office on Briarwood Road and thinks it would suit the court’s needs — at a cost of around $300,000.
“It’s an old government building and it’s well equipped for what we need,” he said.
But weather that need will be met remains to be seen.
Board President Henry Watts said he would prefer the justice court simply relocate into seldom-used courtrooms Adams County Court House.
The justice court is currently in session four days a week, while some of the courtrooms in the county courthouse are only used a few times a month Vess said.
And while Vess said the county courthouse could remedy the problem of space in the courtroom, he’s not sure the plan is logistically feasible.
Vess said the justice court’s records, which currently fill several rooms, would have no place to be stored if the justice court took up residence in the county courthouse.
“And we have to have access to those files,” he said.
Vess said if someone has to run back and forth between the two courts to get files mid-trial that could be problematic.
In addition, Vess said if the court were to move to the county courthouse the computer system there would have to be updated.
Plans to expand the currently used room would involve removing a load-bearing wall and cutting into valuable storage space.
While there’s no quick fix in sight, Vess said he hopes to have the problem corrected soon.
“It’s getting to be a matter of safety,” he said.
Vess said the courtroom used now has seating for 17, plus room for attorneys, their clients and a bailiff.
However the room is so small all of those people have to sit in extremely close proximity to each other.
“There are prisoners intermingling with the public,” he said.
And Vess said the stressful atmosphere of a trial does not help the situation.
Demonstrating, Vess’ arm easily reaches from a chair in the general seating area to the chair were someone on trial would be sitting.
“There’s no separation here,” he said.
Vess said if there were to be a fight or a fire in the normally full courtroom the result could be disastrous.
Any type of problem in the system would only slow the court’s already crawling progress.
Vess said there is currently a backlog of 300 to 500 cases in justice court.
Looking back, Vess said the court’s problems took root five years ago.
That’s when a census revealed the county’s population decreased and number of justice court judges went from three to two.
Since then, Vess said the caseload has gone up with fewer judges to handle them.
Lately the court’s problems have been compounding quickly.
Vess said starting around the first of the year the area got more Mississippi Highway Patrol units and the amount of traffic tickets has increased — possibly by as much as 200 percent.
“That’s more contested tickets,” he said.
So many tickets that Vess said earlier in the week he was hearing cases about tickets written in May.
Vess said a steady stream of misdemeanor drug activity and civil suits, up by approximately 50 percent, also keeps the court packed.
But that packed courtroom is helping to build the county’s bankroll, Vess said.
Vess said fees and fines contribute between $90,000 and $100,000 a month to the county.
“Financially we’re pulling our weight,” he said.
Comments
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on August 23, 2008 at 3:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"Isle of Capri Slot Tech Manager Eric Jordan got the honor of shaving the head of his boss, Tony Scudiero, Friday afternoon. Jordan was the single biggest Natchez Isle of Capri donor to a fundraiser set up to help Isle of Capri casino employees affected by recent flooding in Iowa. "
That seems to be an incorrect title for the picture above. And with all due respect to Judge Vess, I'm quite certain that he is having more contested tickets because there are more people feeling they have been wrongly ticketed by certain highway patrolmen. Most folks don't take the time (and put up with the hassle) to contest a ticket for nuthin'.
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on August 23, 2008 at 3:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It would eliminate a lot of the traffic if they would put an end to this catch and release thing they've got going. But then again that might cut into the 90k to 100k monthly intake.
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on August 23, 2008 at 3:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Granddad, that's very noticable isn't it? Makes you wonder who was asleep in the press room.
Posted by kpage (anonymous) on August 23, 2008 at 7:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What does Watts know about what a judge needs? "Just use what we have duh-dee duh duh!" Dude, just ask the judge and follow on his recommendations...he's the one who has to worry about some unruly juvie stabbing him...or some unruly juvvie's mama.
Posted by sandyman7 (anonymous) on August 23, 2008 at 8:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well Let's see......Is it true that the "justice court judges" only hold court one or at the most two(2) days a week???? And they wonder why there case load is so backed up.....
Posted by Swapmeet (anonymous) on August 23, 2008 at 11:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"But weather that need will be met remains to be seen."
This is a quote from the story. Do I even need to explain it? It should be "whether" not "weather". I usually don't comment on errors in the articles of the paper for fear of seeming overly critical, but this is an extreme misuse of a word. As a future teacher, I would think these kind of errors would not be found in a newspaper. Sorry if I hurt anyone's feelings. That was not my intent.
Posted by Swapmeet (anonymous) on August 23, 2008 at 11:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
In my above comment, I said that this error in the paper was an extreme misuse of a word. That really isn't right. It's more of an error in homophones I guess.
Posted by Kaintuck (anonymous) on August 23, 2008 at 12:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Natchez is feeling the effects of a perfect storm: The problem began 5 years ago, when the census revealed the county's population had declined - but drug activity and civil suits have grown 50%. That means that criminals now constitute a higher percentage of the total population of Adams County. Now that this trend has been identified, it should be addressed. That may cost $300,000 now, but one thing is certain: If not "nipped in the bud", the problem will only get worse.
As an extreme example, time served for murder in New Orleans averaged 60 days, because that was all perps could be held for, without judges or prosecuting attorneys to try them. Either have justice court judges work more, or hire more, but as they say, "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over, expecting a different result..."
Posted by Hardcorps (anonymous) on August 23, 2008 at 4 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I also am aware of several peeps who have been wrongly ticketed by overly zealous highway patrolmen. It didn't just start either. It has been going on for a year or two now.
Posted by natchez500 (anonymous) on August 23, 2008 at 4:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
every one knows they need more room mhp 24 is the one causing the problems with tickets judgevess will be kicked off the bench soon and everyone knows it that will make 2 gone barber and vess both the same then we can elect a lawyer vess uit grambling you know you are in trouble and you just got a payraise so you stated the raise was due because of all the work load you ran for this get your act together you have been given more chances than bibkey was, so ND why don't you print the facts
Posted by acedog (anonymous) on August 23, 2008 at 6:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i like watts idea. they just need to move into the big courthouse where you have 3 court rooms. county court is rarely used. they could move in there, and work with one another schedules.also the old federal judge office is still over there the judges can used that and there are several rooms in that court house that can be used to store files. also it would be a big security risk for the sheriff office to transport inmates back and forward to a courthouse thats miles away. not to mention its going to cost more,right now they walk the inmates to court.
Posted by texasranger (anonymous) on August 24, 2008 at 12:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Vess said a steady stream of misdemeanor drug activity and civil suits, up by approximately 50 percent, also keeps the court packed.
I thought somebody said the crime rate was around 20%. My bad.
Posted by texasranger (anonymous) on August 24, 2008 at 12:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Whad,s a homophones? Is at a critter or sumpin? or a new cellphone?
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