County judge highlights urgent need for courthouse expansion amid rising case backlog

Concerns over courtroom capacity and the urgent need for courthouse expansion dominated discussions at the Collin County Toll Road Authority meeting on June 2, 2025. Officials highlighted a critical shortage of courtrooms, exacerbated by a population surge of 350,000 since the last court addition, leading to a staggering 1.22% backlog in cases.

Judge John emphasized the pressing need for additional court facilities, stating, "We are going to be underwater... until we can add onto the courthouse." The current courthouse lacks the necessary space to accommodate the growing number of cases, and previous plans for expansion have been sidelined. The judge pointed out that two courtrooms initially requested for future growth were reassigned to district courts, leaving the county courts without the needed resources.

The discussion also touched on the inefficiencies of courtroom sharing, with comparisons drawn to Travis County, which reportedly faces a tenfold increase in pending cases per court. "I don’t have a solution," the judge admitted, highlighting the ongoing struggle to manage the increasing caseload without adequate facilities.

As the meeting concluded, the urgency for a strategic plan to expand the courthouse was clear. With no immediate solutions in sight, officials are left grappling with how to effectively manage the growing demands of the judicial system in Collin County.