Judicial officials say old courthouse is security nightmare

TODD WETHERINGTON | DAILY HERALD District Attorney Valerie Asbell describes the scene inside a Northampton County courtroom on the morning of last year's shooting as she speaks to members of Rural Courts Commission Thursday. Advertisement

Lance Martin, Herald Senior Staff Writer

JACKSON - Northampton County judicial officials expressed the need for a new judicial center to replace a circa 1858 courthouse that, despite the best efforts of all involved, is a security nightmare.

The courthouse was the scene of a fatal shooting of an inmate last year, but that was more of a problem with Department of Correction policy on guns inside the courtroom and the type of holsters officers were using at the time of the July 12 incident, Superior Court Judge Cy A. Grant told the Rural Courts Commission Thursday.

While not discounting the seriousness of last year's shooting, there are breaches in courthouse security that could cause more problems in the future and numerous structural issues, officials told the commission, which is going county-to-county to listen to needs of rural courthouse officials across the state.

The commission, however, only gathers data and doesn't provide any funding. Funds for a new courthouse would have to come from the county.

Chief District Court Judge Alfred W. Kwasikpui presented the case for a new judicial center, which commission Vice Chair William W. Nicholls Jr. said is more of a long-term need.

The Northampton County courthouse, Kwasikpui explained, was completed in 1858, the same year as the Lincoln-Douglas debates and the year Minnesota was admitted as the 32nd state in the Union.

“It's a beautiful facility,” Kwasikpui said. “It's been well maintained.”

But, the judge said, “Due to the perils of time, it's beginning to deteriorate. There are cracks in the wall. There are rotted window sills. There are leaks in the ceiling.”

Wasps come through the light fixtures. “We keep a can of bug spray in the office,” Kwasikpui said. “There were thousands of bees on the outside window at the Guardian Ad Litem office. There are bats in the courthouse. We've got bats hanging from various locations.”

Security, however, was the primary issue addressed by all the officials. “As far as security, this courthouse was built in a different time. We share the same parking lots, stairwells and elevators,” Kwasikpui said. “Family members have talked to me about their case. The public has unfettered access to offices. This building does not lend itself to security. You can come into the judges' chambers.”

Kwasikpui said there is no means of escape from the third floor. “You can (only) close the doors. We're in need of an escape ladder. Some offices don't have windows.”

Sheriff Wardie Vincent said the sheriff's office has to escort inmates across the street to the courthouse. Jurors can see inmates in the courthouse holding cells. Even the district courtroom adjacent to the courthouse has security issues, the sheriff told the commission.

“The breezeway opens to the courtroom,” he said.

Even though the front doors to the courthouse are locked, that doesn't bar people inside the courtroom from jimmying the doors to let people in, Vincent said. “We've found knives and drugs dropped on the outside.”

While the sheriff's office has a metal detector, the sheriff admitted he doesn't have the staff to operate it full-time.

Nicholls said Northampton's courthouse shooting last year has made an impact across the state. “One of the things that came out of this horrible event is we hope eventually to get video appearances (by DOC) inmates. They (DOC) are also moving away from level 1 holsters.”

The problem with courthouse security is not only limited to violent crimes, Clerk of Court Michele Spruill told the commission. “I live in this courthouse Monday through Friday from 8 to 5,” she said. “I have very grave concerns about the open space.”

She said her office has been broken into twice and she has concerns for her cashiers. “I feel like I'm a sitting duck because of the problems with security here.”

Spruill acknowledged a new judicial center is a long-term fix to the problem, but she told the commission land on the edge of town across from the Wilco Hess station “would be a beautiful site for the complex.”