Courtroom renovations proposed
Staff from the Clayton County Clerk of Courts office last week presented a proposal to the board of supervisors for renovating aspects of the courtroom at the Clayton County Courthouse. (Photo by Paul Olson)
By Willis Patenaude, Times-Register
In an effort to “jump out of the 1970s and into the 2000s,” Lori Pope and Johnna Ihns-Sutton with the Clayton County Clerk of Courts office last week presented a proposal to the board of supervisors for renovating aspects of the courtroom at the Clayton County Courthouse.
If major remodeling is possible, consideration would include removing the steps going into the jury box and lowering the box to floor level, making this area more accessible.
Chairs that are currently a permanent fixture would be replaced with slimmer, movable chairs. This would also make the jury box more handicap friendly, something it currently lacks with the immobile seating.
Moving the bar in front of the gallery back, as well as moving the gallery seating back, would provide more room in front of the bar for attorneys and their work area.
The proposal also suggested moving the judge’s bench to a corner location, close to the door where the judge enters the room, which would give judges a better view of the jury box, counsel tables and gallery. In addition, moving the bench to the corner would allow more space for the attorneys to arrange their seating as it fits each case.
According to Ihns-Sutton, “if the corner bench relocation is approved, it would allow room to move the witness box to the center of the wall space, which would put the jury on one side of the witness box, the judge’s bench on the other and the court reporter in front of the witness where the reporter can hear everyone.”
Judge John Bauercamper wasn’t at the presentation but provided a statement about the need for renovations.
“The main need is for less spectator seating and more room for lawyers, clients and technology,” he said.
Since the state of Iowa installed enhanced modern technology in the courtroom, the area around the counsel tables and judges bench has only gotten smaller, and there is a growing need to make the jury area more accessible.
The purpose of the presentation was to bring attention to the renovation, which is still in the early stages, or “at request phase only.” Pope and Ihns-Sutton took it to the board of supervisors to figure out the particulars, such as how to move forward and how to discuss possible funding options.
According to Ihns-Sutton, “if approved, it is my understanding that Clayton County would pay for the permanent structures of the courtroom renovations, construction materials and labor, and the state of Iowa will pay for removable items, for example, tables, chairs, TV, computers, microphones, etc.”
As of now, there is no cost estimate available.
The board of supervisors was contacted for comment on a timetable, possible funding options and the likelihood of renovation approval, but did not respond to the inquiry by press time.
