Surry County judges say courthouse is at capacity, ask commissioners to plan for court space

Superior Court Judge Angela Puckett told the Surry County Board of Commissioners on March 2025 that Surry County’s courthouse has reached capacity and asked commissioners to begin planning for additional space and modest security upgrades.

Puckett said the court recently hired a drug court coordinator, Benita Snyder, but currently “we are just have no available office space for her,” and that the coordinator is “working out of, what can only probably be described as a large closet.” She said a district attorney time study identified a need for two assistant district attorneys and three new office staff, and that state approval of those positions would create further space shortfalls.

Puckett told commissioners the courthouse lacks a dedicated hearing room for the register of deeds to take testimony, that probation officers are currently all based in Mount Airy and the court would like roughly half of probation (about nine officers) available in Dobson for courtroom needs, and that she and Judge Southern have discussed creating a centralized, secure family justice center for domestic-violence services, guardian ad litem and custody mediation. Puckett also raised the absence of a public law library at the courthouse and said a recent security assessment identified additional camera and visual-barrier recommendations.

Puckett said the county has already invested in security upgrades and that the courthouse “is much more secure than it was,” but added there remain “a few places that need to be addressed” and that the bigger, longer-term issue is space. She described previous shifts of offices and uses inside the building that have reduced dedicated court space and urged the commissioners to put a plan in place to consolidate court functions and free space where possible. She mentioned the county-owned building formerly used by Judge Boone as a potential location to house probation staff and other court functions and said feasibility study results on the old jail site will inform options.

Commissioners asked about details such as the number and layout of rooms; Puckett said she has “some thoughts” and has discussed options with the county manager, including a judicial annex with a covered walkway to preserve the courthouse public entrance and security. She emphasized she was presenting anticipated needs in advance rather than asking for immediate, large expenditures.

Puckett also noted the court had maximized existing space—consolidating court reporter offices and assigning previously designated spaces to other uses—and urged early planning because contracts and leases could take years to change.

She offered to provide commissioners the full security assessment and said she looks forward to working with county staff on space solutions. The board moved on to subsequent budget presentations after the exchange.