Some of Vermilion County’s remaining ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) money will be used to hire an architect to begin planning some improvements at the county courthouse.
Circuit Judge Thomas O’Shaughnessy told members of the County Board’s Property Committee Monday evening that there are two courtrooms that need updates…
{AUDIO: ”Courtroom 3-A is very small. That’s where the Juvenile Court is. And there are often-times in those cases five – sometimes up to six attorneys with their clients involved with a child-protective case. And they’re all crammed in the jury box. And it just is not amenable to affective representation.”}
The other courtroom – 3-B – is the county’s second felony courtroom, and Judge O’Shaughnessy says it’s too small….
{AUDIO: ”The well area – which is where the attorneys sit – is too small. One of the counsel tables is pushed-up against the jury box that makes it difficult for the attorneys to confer without being heard by jurors. And the need – as I said – for those courtrooms to be renovated is significant.}
Judge O’Shaughnessy noted there are eight judges assigned to the Rita B. Garman Vermilion County Courthouse but only seven courtrooms. The committee agreed to get in touch with an architect and bring a report to next month’s meeting.
ARPA funds are those monies the county received to help recover from the COVID pandemic.
