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Judges seek space, security and repairs at Neil Mertz Judicial Complex; county to prioritize short-term fixes
Summary
7th Judicial District Court officials told commissioners the courthouse has insufficient office and courtroom space, security concerns with shared Sheriff's Office areas, and building deterioration; the commission asked for a prioritized list of urgent repairs and to fold needs into long-term facilities planning.
Judge Shannon Murdock and court managers told the commission the Neil Mertz Judicial Complex lacks adequate office space and courtroom capacity and that staff sometimes must meet clients in public hallways. The court said shared space arrangements with the Sheriff's Office after a 2016 relocation removed a courtroom and several offices and disabled parts of the original alarm system because routine movement triggered it. Judge Murdock opposed open carry in the complex (except for law enforcement and judges) and questioned whether a simple wall would resolve security concerns.
Court staff described physical deterioration: cracked and lifting tiles, worn carpet, peeling and missing exterior stucco, an interior wall that has developed a widening crack, roof leaks and an atrium-like front hallway with no ventilation. District CFO Dorella Molina said some state matching funds for courthouse projects were offered previously but county follow-through was not confirmed, hampering past projects. Commissioners asked the court to provide a prioritized "wish list" of urgent repairs, minimal immediate space expansion needs, and highest-priority security upgrades so the county can consider one-time funding and integrate courthouse work into longer-term facilities changes tied to the new Administration Building.
