In a little over three weeks, two Bartholomew County courts will begin conducting their legal proceedings away from the Bartholomew County Courthouse on a lengthy, but temporary basis.
Pending last minute scheduling changes, the offices of Bartholomew Circuit Court and the Bartholomew Juvenile Court will temporarily move to the county’s new Court Services Building, 555 First St., in mid-March.
At this time, it appears that Monday, March 25, will be the first day that court proceedings presided over by Judge Kelly Benjamin and Juvenile Magistrate Brittney Long will be conducted at the center, according to Circuit Court office manager Tammy Johannesen.
Originally, the two courts were supposed to make the temporary move this week and begin hearings on March 4. In preparation, the court cleared out its schedule for this week – only to be informed of a three-week delay, Johannesen said.
“We’re not clearing our schedule again,” the court’s office manager said. “We can’t keep doing that. We’ll have to clear it out at the last minute.”
For those with business coming up with either of the two courts, notices will be placed on the Circuit and Juvenile Court pages located on the Bartholomew County website, on where hearings will be held. Johannesen said printing is also being placed at the bottom of court orders that urges individuals to check the website at bartholomew.in.gov to see where their hearing will be held, Johannesen said.
Circuit Court is expected to operate out of the Court Services Center for about a year, she said. Once upgrades and renovations in the Circuit and Juvenile courtrooms are complete, their space will first temporarily house Superior Court 1, followed by Superior Court 2, while work is being done in their respective courtrooms.
It is only after all the work is done a year from now on all second and third floor courtrooms and offices that Circuit Court will move back to its home location.
The announcement comes just four days after county officials signed a $3.28 million contract with Dunlap & Co. to extensively upgrade plumbing, replace 72,000 feet of data cables, install new carpeting, renovate lighting and make other improvements on the 150th anniversary of the historic courthouse.
