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Commission hears competing views on courthouse security and screening
Summary
Retired Probate Judge Wallace White Jr. criticized courthouse body-search procedures as intrusive; the circuit clerk and other commissioners defended screenings as necessary to protect staff and the public, noting past incidents and deputies finding weapons.
A debate over courthouse security and screening practices took center stage at the St. Clair County Commission meeting after retired Probate Judge Wallace White Jr. raised concerns that some courthouse visitors are being subjected to intrusive searches while others pass freely.
White said a local visitor complained about being required to remove a belt and submit to screening just to do routine business, and he argued that screening should be applied uniformly or limited to those entering courtroom proceedings. "If we're going to search one, search them all," White said, arguing that customers buying tags or licenses should not face the same screening as courtroom visitors.
The circuit clerk, speaking in defense of current procedures, said deputies and screening staff have encountered knives, guns and even a hatchet during routine checks and that screening protects staff and vulnerable visitors. "We have had deputies that have sat out there and ... found everything from knives, guns, even a hatchet," the circuit clerk said, noting an incident in which deputies intervened to protect a mentally challenged visitor.
Commissioners acknowledged both concerns: the county must comply with an Alabama Supreme Court directive to provide security for court operations while the county also funds and administers shared public facilities. The chair noted the county commission cannot unilaterally set courtroom screening policy but must provide funding and work with the sheriff and courts to ensure appropriate and minimally intrusive security.
Why it matters: The discussion affects access to public services, staff safety, and civil liberties at shared courthouse counters and hallways. Officials described tensions between the duty to protect judges, staff and the public and the goal of minimizing inconvenience to ordinary citizens.
What's next: Commissioners said they will continue the conversation—balancing safety, liability, and public convenience—and monitor how security is implemented at different county facilities. No formal policy change was adopted at the meeting.
