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Judge wants more space in tight courtroom
Published Friday, August 28, 2009
NATCHEZ — In a courtroom the size of most average-sized living rooms, the Adams County Justice Court is cramped and crowded.
For more than a year Justice Court Judge Charlie Vess has been imploring the Adams County Board of Supervisors to allocate funding to either purchase a new building to relocate the justice court or renovate the existing building.
And now that supervisors are meeting for budget discussions, Vess is once again seeking funding — and this time he has some help.
Vess is currently circulating a petition throughout the local legal community which asks the supervisors to bring improvements to the justice court building.
“I think the petition speaks for itself,” Vess said. “I’m not the only one that sees a need for change.”
Vess’ petition has been signed by approximately 20 local lawyers and several more have voiced an interest in signing, Vess said.
Vess said while he believes the justice court should be relocated to another building in town, he realizes the county has budget constraints.
“Realistically, we need to look at renovating the space we have,” he said.
Local attorney Jack Lazarus said while it’s not often he practices in justice court, he believes the small open room presents a safety hazard.
“(The courtroom) is a place where emotions run high. And if there is a fight or a fire in the courtroom, there’s no place for anyone to go,” Lazarus said. “It’s just not an adequate size for a courtroom.”
Additionally, Vess said the fire marshal recently visited the courtroom and instructed Vess that no more than 17 people should be allowed in the building at one time.
Vess said prior to the fire marshal’s visit, it was not uncommon to have close to 40 people in the courtroom.
“Now we have people waiting in the stairwell and waiting outside,” Vess said. “It’s a bad situation.”
While Vess said he is understating to the county’s budget constraints, be believes a renovation to the court could provide much needed space and wouldn’t bust the county’s budget.
Earlier this week Vess met with a contractor who estimated the necessary renovations that would greatly increase the size of the courtroom would cost approximately $60,000.
Vess said fines and fees collected within the court could easily cover the cost of renovations.
July, which Vess classified as a “slow month,” saw more than $80,000 in fines and fees collected.
“This is something that we can easily cover,” he said. “We not looking for a handout, we’re definitely holding our own over here.”
And while the supervisors haven’t met with Vess, or received a copy of his petition yet, his request has been taken under advisement, Supervisor Mike Lazarus said.
Lazarus said the supervisors are currently seeking estimates from contractors to determine how much the needed renovations would cost.
Comments
Posted by mrbobo (anonymous) on August 28, 2009 at 1:11 a.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on August 28, 2009 at 6:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Perhaps the courtroom would be less crowded if we didn't have certain State Troopers writing bogus tickets.
Posted by melrose (anonymous) on August 28, 2009 at 6:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Mr. Bobo,
They went pretty easy on Charlie's fine, considering what he did to that girl. He could've killed her. She's so little compared to him. He's a monster. Judge Vess is a wonderful judge, and I agree with him on the size of the courtroom. You're just bitter becuase he gave you or one of your loved ones what they deserve.
Posted by bjsgrannie (anonymous) on August 28, 2009 at 7:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
melrose:
What exactly are you talking about when you say,"They went pretty easy on Charlies fine considering what he did to that girl. He could have killed her."?
Posted by gottabehappy (anonymous) on August 28, 2009 at 7:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
In this time with this economy I say suck it up and deal with it.
Posted by shelockholmes (anonymous) on August 28, 2009 at 7:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
A judge can clear the court room anytime they want so overcrowding is who's fault? The problem is these thugs bring the whole family and they should be sent outside, that is up to the judge. Justice court used to be held at the judges homes maybe that could be brought back and really save the county some money. What do you think Charlie will you save the county some money. Maybe you could provide
after court snacks and sodas that would be a real vote getter.
Posted by melrose (anonymous) on August 28, 2009 at 8:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Please excuse my comment, Mr. Bobo. I goofed up. A friend of mine called to tell me that you were directing that statement towards a criminal named Charlie (not Judge Charlie). I skimmed it too fast and overreacted. Please forgive me.
Posted by Lifeboat (anonymous) on August 28, 2009 at 8:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Shelockholmes...is right a judge can clear the courtroom,
but the public has a right to attend court hearings...relatives included. If we start limiting who can attend proceedings then courts are open to criticism they
are conducting "spainish inquisition" hearings. It should
be manditory the press attend every court hearing, aldermen meeting and any public gathering. Finally justice
court was moved to a central location in 1982 to eliminate
corruption, payoff's and bribes some judges were getting.
The system has improved greatly and modernizing the
courtroom is only an attempt to give "the people" a decent place to conduct their legal business.
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on August 28, 2009 at 8:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If the city can afford a decent court room to pay traffic fines then the county should fix Vess' court room. His bench and the laywers tables take up 3/4's of the room.
Posted by SHELDONKAISERJR (SHELDON KAISER) on August 28, 2009 at 11:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
WHAT DOES THE FIRE CODE SAY ABOUT HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN BE IN A ROOM AT ONE TIME. MAYBE THE JUDGE NEEDS TO ASSESS A FINE AGAINST THE COURT.
Posted by beammeupscotty (anonymous) on August 28, 2009 at 1:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Great to see that one business in Natchez is booming.
Posted by beammeupscotty (anonymous) on August 28, 2009 at 4:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe if you put them behind bars for a longer jail sentence you wouldn't keep seeing the same ones and your case load would be less.
Posted by shelockholmes (anonymous) on August 28, 2009 at 5:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
At leasy half of all money collected goes to the state.
The Justice Court does not turn a profit what profit is realized ends up in some employees pocket. The real way to make some money for the county is to demand payment of fines
or go to jail on the spot. Then you would see collections rise
istead of millions on the books and in collection.
Posted by juju (anonymous) on August 29, 2009 at 2:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you beammeupscotty! You'd think with all those people someone could keep up with the convictions, and files. And that courtroom is all show anyway. They decide everything in a back room. And if you're ever in there for any reason, notice how the crooks and prisoners brought in know everyone and shoot the breeze with the officers and workers. They are in there so many times they're unintimdated and act like they're just going into the principal's office to get fussed at and nothing really happen. And it doesn't!!
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on August 29, 2009 at 7:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
get those monies owed paid up and use the court fees if there is so much activity in the justice court then there should be money , I've heard the court is way behind on collecting fines/fees owed?????
I've had a case or two over there, and yes the court made the right decision, but I never saw the money.....it was a waste of time....
Posted by fraidoclowns (anonymous) on August 29, 2009 at 9:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Krogers, what it is that you do that has you in court so often? In today's paper, alone, I see where you stated you were robbed in another city, and you've "had a case or two" in this particular court.
I'm not being facetious. I honestly wonder what it is you do. Are you in law enforcement?
Posted by RU4GOD (anonymous) on August 31, 2009 at 1:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
With the growth of the population and the fact that crime and other violations of law contiue I can understand the need for more room. Is it so bad to make more room? Many people have to add on to their homes when the family grows. We as a community have grown, so I think we should add on to the court room to keep up with todays needs.
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