FRANKFORT, Ky., Oct. 28, 2024 – The media and public are invited to a groundbreaking ceremony for the planned Crittenden County Judicial Center at 1 p.m. CDT Tuesday, Oct. 29. The event will take place at the construction site at 107 S. Main St. in Marion.
The Kentucky General Assembly authorized the Crittenden County project in 2020. The new two-story structure will contain approximately 20,040 square feet and house all court services. Construction is set to be completed in fall 2026. The project cost is $20 million.
New judicial centers improve upon older, inadequate facilities, greatly enhancing the delivery of court services. The Crittenden County Judicial Center will support the latest data, computer, video and networking technology. The facility will also provide the highest level of Kentucky court security through a single-point entry with magnetometers and security personnel.
Chief Justice of the Commonwealth Laurance B. VanMeter said he appreciates the legislators and county officials who support the improvements for Crittenden County.
“With more than 800,000 cases working their way through the courts each year, our facilities are busy places of justice and court business,” Chief Justice VanMeter said. “Judicial centers should be safe and efficient for everyone who passes through their doors.”
Sherman Carter Barnhart Architects designed the Crittenden building. Pinnacle is the general contractor for the project. Compass Municipal Advisors is the financial agent. All have Kentucky offices.
Chief Justice VanMeter and Crittenden County Judge-Executive Perry Newcom will be among the speakers at the ceremony. Other state and local officials are expected to attend.
Process for Constructing Judicial Facilities
The Administrative Office of the Courts oversees the construction and maintenance of Kentucky court facilities in accordance with House Bill 734, which was passed by the 2000 General Assembly. As a result of this legislation, the AOC created a process to fairly and objectively determine court facility needs.
Once funding is authorized, the AOC Division of Capital Construction works with local communities to assemble a project development board. This board ensures that county and court officials have input on all aspects of the project, including decisions on the site, architect and contractor.
The PDB is composed of the county judge-executive, a fiscal court representative, the chief circuit judge, the chief district judge, the circuit court clerk, a citizen-at-large, the AOC director or designee and a Kentucky Bar Association designee.
As the operations arm for the state court system, the AOC in Frankfort supports the activities of nearly 3,300 court system employees and 412 elected justices, judges and circuit court clerks. The AOC also executes the Judicial Branch budget.
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