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Tuesday, November 01, 2005

Ind. Courts - News today re Morgan County Courthouse; arrest of Greenwood court manager; Wayne County Circuit Court Judge David Kolger

"After 14 months, courthouse reopens" is the headline in the Indianapolis Star today to a report by Josh Duke on the reopening of the Morgan County Courthouse in Martinsville. Some quotes:

Noticeable changes -- such as new paint, natural light and fresh air circulating inside the building -- comforted employees as they returned last week. Circuit Court Judge Matthew Hanson said he can feel air movement within his offices that he hadn't noticed previously.
He added that he is amazed by the efficiency he has seen since returning to his office and courtroom. Employees no longer face cramped conditions where they have to search for materials and fight for courtroom space, he said.

The problem started in July 2004 with a mysterious smell inside the Circuit Court chambers that caused some employees to suffer respiratory-related illnesses. All courthouse employees moved out the next month to the administration building. An investigation traced the source to a flawed ventilation system, and the county hired Dial One Hoosier in May to fix it.

County Commissioner Norman Voyles estimated the county spent about $800,000 to fix the courthouse; however, the cost won't affect property taxes, he said. The work will be paid from the county's cumulative capital fund, which is money set aside for building repair and construction.

Returning to the courthouse will let the courts catch up on backlogged jury trials and civil cases, Hanson said. Some cases were pushed back more than a year because the county lacked courtrooms.

Beginning next week, Hanson expects to have two or three jury trials a week for the foreseeable future. Typically, his court has no more than one a week, Hanson said.

Some minor issues remained unresolved Monday. Various computers, printers and phones didn't work properly and, despite his excitement to be back, Superior Judge G. Thomas Gray isn't ready to sing the building's praises. Gray said employees may have moved back a week too soon. He said some cleaning issues remained when they returned last week, and they've been resolved.

"Court manager arrested in theft: At least $5,000 from Greenwood traffic fines may be missing, police say" is the headline to this Star story by Paul Bird. It begins:
The Greenwood City Court manager has been arrested in connection with the theft of thousands of dollars collected in traffic fines. On Monday, Johnson County sheriff's detectives arrested Paula Suzanne Borges, 41, Franklin, on an initial charge of theft. Bail was set at $3,000.

"I am beyond shock," said Judge Lewis Gregory. "If someone said a week ago I would be talking about this, I wouldn't have believed it." The court handles about $1 million annually in money paid in fines and probation. Police believe at least $5,000 is missing.
New Wayne County Circuit Court Judge David Kolger is the subject of a Richmond Palladium-Item story (first noted by E. Thomas Kemp of Kemplog.com).

Posted by Marcia Oddi on November 1, 2005 05:45 AM
Posted to Indiana Courts