Curious about the cost of courthouse construction in Kentucky?
In addition to the series of stories out of the Herald Leader is a list (searchable) of courthouse construction projects since 1998. Hardin and Jefferson Counties are not on the list since they are new but not completed during that time frame.
Here is the link: Judicial centers built since 1998
The Herald Leader recently did a series on concerns regarding Kentucky's courthouse construction this past decade addressing costs, oversight, etc.
Chief Justice Minton has addressed the courthouse construction, and here is the Herald Leader editorial remarking on the response. Here's an earlier post for some background - AOC: "Chief Justice Minton to discuss judicial center construction program Oct. 3 at Court Facilities Standards Committee meeting." And here is a "story" rather than the editorial from the Herald Leader on the Chief Justice's remarks - "Chief Judge Seeks Changes in court-house plan"
Click on the heading for the editorial.
Cleaning up court construction mess
The first step, it's often said, to solving a problem is acknowledging it.
Kentucky Supreme Court Chief Justice John D. Minton Jr. did just that last week when he announced several changes in the near-billion-dollar construction budget for courthouses, also know as judicial centers, in Kentucky.
The new chief justice said he's making the proposal to "shore up public confidence" in the program, a subtle but real way of saying the courthouse building boom has damaged trust in our state's court system.
To recap: In the last decade, under then-Chief Justice Joseph Lambert, Kentucky has spent more than $880 million on 65 new courthouses. Elaborate palaces have been built in some of our poorest counties, often displacing significant historic buildings.
Although the program is rife with cronyism and most contracts are let without competitive bidding, there's been very little outside oversight.
The Administrative Office of the Courts, which runs the program, is immune from the state's open-records law, so it can decide what it wants to let the public know about these huge expenditures.
Minton hasn't pledged yet to completely open AOC records, as we would like, but he has taken some important steps:
■ Creating an online tracking system for "every penny" spent on these projects.
■ Taking steps to include public input on projects, including better notice of meetings of the boards that oversee them.
■ Asking the National Center for State Courts to take a look at AOC's administrative procedures.
■ Asking State Auditor Crit Luallen to take "a closer look" at judicial-center projects.
These actions are a good sign of Minton's interest in creating a culture of accountability in this huge, flawed program that he inherited from his predecessor.
But they are first steps toward changing a system that has support because it has spread building projects around the state while enriching key people.
It will take time and determination to finally arrive at a fundamentally better system.
We wish Minton well and urge him to keep at it.
Here is a press release I just received. It was sent out on Oct. 2 announcing Chief Justice Minton's meeting with the public and the press to discuss courthouse construction today at 10:00 a.m.
I will be looking for the press response to this after the series published recently in the Herald Leader.
Here are some background posts:
Here is the announced press release from the AOC:
FRANKFORT , Ky. , Oct. 2, 2008 - Chief Justice of Kentucky John D. Minton Jr. will discuss the Administrative Office of the Courts judicial center construction program at the Friday, Oct. 3, meeting of the Court Facilities Standards Committee (CFSC). The meeting will be open to the public. It will begin at 10 a.m. in the AOC Building 12 conference room at 100 Millcreek Park in Frankfort .
During the meeting, Chief Justice Minton will solicit input from the committee on possible changes/improvements to the judicial center construction program.
The CFSC is a 10-member body comprised of representatives from the Kentucky Executive, Judicial and Legislative branches of government and a county official appointed by the governor. The committee reviews design plans, cost estimates and financing proposals for new court facilities statewide. State Sen. Robert Stivers and state Rep. Kathy Stein co-chair the 10-member committee, which includes Chief Justice Minton and AOC Director Jason Nemes.
The committee operates under the auspices of the AOC in Frankfort , which is the operational arm of the Kentucky Court of Justice. The AOC Department of Facilities oversees court facility construction, renovation and maintenance throughout the commonwealth.
What: Chief Justice Minton will discuss the Administrative Office of the Courts judicial center construction program and solicit input from the committee on possible changes/improvements. The committee will also discuss new judicial center projects for Breckinridge, Fleming and Pike counties, which were among the 17 judicial center projects authorized by the 2006 General Assembly and funded by the 2008 General Assembly.
Original project plans:
Breckinridge County - 33,000-square-foot judicial center with an estimated total project cost of $11.5 million
Fleming County - 32,800-square-foot judicial center with an estimated total project cost of $11.5 million
Pike County - 94,900-square-foot judicial center with an estimated total project cost of $28.4 million
When: Friday, Oct. 3, 10 a.m. EDT
Where: Administrative Office of the Courts, Building 12 conference room, 100 Millcreek Park, Frankfort
The Citizen Foster Care Review Board needs volunteers to help Kentucky’s children:
"On this Constitution Day and every day, I urge all Kentucky citizens to gain an understanding of the document that is the foundation for our laws and government," said Chief Justice Minton. "It is important for us to understand the rights and duties we have as citizens of the United States."
Constitution Day 2008 marks the 221st anniversary of the signing of America’s Constitution in 1787. In observing Constitution Day on Sept. 17, Chief Justice Minton will discuss access to justice with students at Western Kentucky University and talk about U.S. Supreme Court decisions at Elizabethtown Community and Technical College.
The Kentucky Court of Justice laid the foundation for a strong civic education program in 1990. Today the court system provides training to youth and adults about the law, the legal process and the fundamental principles of our constitutional democracy. Law-related education gives individuals an understanding of our complex legal system, helping them to contribute to society as thoughtful, well-informed citizens.
==========================================================October 2, 2008 Guardian ad Litem Training Seminar
Other dates are Oct. 16, 23; Nov. 13, 23; and Dec.
Guardian ad Litem Training Seminar (Advanced Curriculum Training) Kentucky Court of Justice
Start: Thursday, October 02, 2008 9:00 AM
End: Thursday, October 02, 2008 4:00 PM
Location: Covington-Northern Kentucky Convention Center
Description: To register please provide your full name, bar number, mailing address, phone number and email address to: Susan Miller, 800.928.2350' 502.573.1412 (fax)
Recalling "Joan of Archives" and the destruction of many Jefferson County court records last year, the following story is of note. However, even more curiouser is that not a single citizen or lawyer is on this committee who was not a public or former public official. For what it's worth, you would think there would be some "information technology" folks to opinion on the digital side of the issue plus a few members of the bar and the public who might want to access those records. Those who are to be served might have been useful to have been asked and allowed to serve on the committee. Alas, Joan where art thou now? Or at least a suitable replacement.
Chief Justice of Kentucky John D. Minton Jr. has formed a committee to review how the Kentucky court system retains, destroys and archives court records statewide. The new Court Records Retention Committee will meet for the first time Sept. 4.read more below the 'fold'.
Continue reading "AOC: Committee formed to review court records retention" »
