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Stamford
Courthouse to Open
The Connecticut Judicial Branch
is announcing that the new Stamford Courthouse will open for business on
Monday, August 19, 2002.
"Opening the new Stamford
Courthouse has been a top priority for the Judicial Branch, and I'm pleased
that we're moving forward with a building that's well-suited to meet the
needs of the citizens who reside in the Stamford-Norwalk Judicial District,"
Chief Justice William A. Sullivan said.
Chief Court Administrator Joseph
H. Pellegrino thanked all of those with an interest in the building for
their patience, especially the citizens and officials of the City of
Stamford.
"At times, the wait seemed
long," Judge Pellegrino said. "But with the opening date on the calendar,
the Courthouse is finally on the right track."
Judge Pellegrino also thanked
the state Department of Public Works, which oversaw the project, and the
Legislature, which provided the funding.
At 250,000 square feet, the new
courthouse will be the largest in the state. The $93 million facility will
replace the old Stamford-Norwalk Judicial District Courthouse at 123 Hoyt
St. and the Geographical Area Courthouse No. 1 at 115 Hoyt St. In
addition, Juvenile Matters handled at 91 Prospect Street, and the Office of
Adult Probation at 229 North St. will be moved into the new courthouse. All
four of those facilities will cease operations at their current locations at
the close of business on Friday, August 16.
After the new courthouse opens,
the old Hoyt Street courthouses will be demolished. The land will be used
for construction of a parking garage and main access drive to the new
courthouse.
The new courthouse will include
a library with a Court Service Center and public information desk, allowing
easy access to court schedules and various forms. Computers will be
available for use by the public, attorneys, and pro se litigants.
The mission of the Judicial
Branch's Court Service Centers is to increase public access to court
services and information through technology, user-friendly products, and
staff. Stamford's Court Service Center will be the third to open in the
State; Court Service Centers in New Britain and Bridgeport Superior Courts
were the first two.
Jurors also will have a more
pleasant visit. Previously, jurors gathered in the basement at 123 Hoyt St.
Now, they will gather in a fully equipped assembly room. Workstations with
computer hookup capabilities are available for use by the jurors, as are
public phones and vending machines.
In all, the new courthouse
building will have two arraignment courts, seven criminal jury courtrooms,
six civil jury courtrooms, two civil non-jury courtrooms, two family
courtrooms, one housing courtroom, and two juvenile matters courtrooms.
"We are excited about the move,"
Chief Justice Sullivan said. "But ultimately, it's the people who live in
the Stamford-Norwalk Judicial District who will benefit the most. And that's
the way it should be."
The Stamford-Norwalk Judicial
District serves the cities of Stamford and Norwalk, and the towns of
Greenwich, Darien, New Canaan, Wilton, Weston, and Westport.
For information, contact Rhonda
Stearley-Hebert, Manager of Communications, at 860-757-2270.
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