Judge solves space woes with move to third floor

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, November 7, 2000

For judges at the Adams County Courthouse, there’s finally just enough room at the inn.

After a lengthy discussion Monday, Adams County supervisors, law enforcement officials, architects and Adams County and Youth Court Judge John Hudson discussed the office locations for court officials for the next two years.

&uot;I think that it’s resolved,&uot; said Supervisor Virginia Salmon. &uot;I say that with fingers crossed and toes crossed.&uot;

Email newsletter signup

The new arrangement includes space for judges’ chambers, witness rooms and law enforcement.

&uot;The whole idea is to bring convenience to the second floor (of the courthouse),&uot; Hudson said. &uot;We’re looking at a short-term problem.&uot;

Of all the judges affected by the decision, Hudson, whose office will move to the juvenile justice building once it is completed, made the final concession to resolve the problem.

Because Hudson presides over Adams County Court and Youth Court he needs two chambers — one in the actual courthouse and one in the juvenile justice building to meet with attorneys, defendants and plaintiffs.

He cannot use the juvenile justice building for county court because it will not be equipped with a jury room. The courtroom for Youth Court is also smaller and arranged differently with less seating and without a jury room.

The county now leases space for youth court across the street from the Adams County Jail.

The juvenile justice building is still under construction and should be completed next spring.

Construction continues at the courthouse as well, and the room where Adams County Court normally meets is undergoing renovations.

Despite the ongoing construction at the juvenile justice center, project architect Charles Moroney said it would be difficult to modify the building to meet the needs of both Adams County and Youth Court.

&uot;It’s not just as simple as moving the studs around,&uot; Moroney said.

For example, the modification would require changes in the building’s air conditioning and lighting systems.

To resolve the problem, Hudson agreed to move his courthouse chambers to the third floor even thought the courtrooms are on the second floor.

&uot;I’m willing to work any way I can to cooperate with the board even to my inconvenience,&uot; Hudson said.

Circuit Court Judge Forest &uot;Al&uot; Johnson’s office will be moved from the third floor to the second floor.

And a witness room being renovated on the second-floor adjacent to the county courtroom will be used for that function until Federal Judge David Bramlette’s office is moved to a federal courthouse planned for Natchez.

Bramlette’s former chambers will then be converted into witness rooms and the existing witness room will be converted into chambers for Hudson leaving the third floor office vacant.