MONTGOMERY – Local leaders today commemorated the opening of the Montgomery Justice Center, the new municipal court facility located at 1001 Madison Avenue, which officially began operating December 9.
“The Montgomery Justice Center has been a successful project resulting in a more efficient and effective municipal court system to better serve our citizens, while providing our staff with a better work environment,” Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange said. “It wasn’t overnight when we actually moved in; although you might assume that because I think we closed the old court one day and opened up the Justice Center the next.”
The Center enables Montgomery’s three municipal court judges and administrative staff to handle more, smaller and specialized dockets thanks to two courtrooms – the old court building had just one. The new facility, located across from the Montgomery Curb Market, offers 25,000 square feet, more than tripling the space provided by the former court complex. Along with two courtrooms, it also offers amenities like up to seven pay windows, a new queuing system, dedicated parking for residents and staff and overnight security.
“You know the word that came to me in my office this morning was gratefulness,” Presiding Municipal Court Judge Milton Westry said. “As the Mayor alluded to, it is a tremendous asset to have two courtrooms as opposed to the one. Oftentimes with our dockets – because there were so many citizens we needed to serve, one docket that started at 8:00 a.m. and would run into the 1:00 p.m. docket and delay it from starting. We now have a facility that is going to help us tremendously in serving those citizens who have matters with the municipal court.”
Administrative staff immediately benefited from the extra space since it allows for unique workspaces for every employee in need of one. Court Administrator Ken Nixon alluded to a scenario where more than a dozen employees shared three desks in the old space.
“We are very thankful to the vision and timing of Mayor Strange and the City Council,” Court Administrator Ken Nixon said. “It’s more than just an additional courtroom; it means our employees have more work space, parking and a break space – we didn’t even have a break space in the old facility.”
All rights reserved, Gumptown Magazine. Copyright 2016.
