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�T. _ W �Shty of 7luriba CHARLES E. SMITH R r.1F)Cu1r JU[.[IE wiileteelltii Jubiciill Tirruit .Tuna 19, 1980 MEMORANDUM To: Hercules Kontulas Re: Circuit Courtrooms 224 COUNTY COURTHOUSE VERO DrACH, PLA. 37760 PHONE: 1305) 562.7871 In reviewing the layout and design of the new circuit courtrooms with the other Circuit Judges and a committee of the County Bar Association, it appears there are some changes which must be made. 1. At present, both circuit courtrooms are designed for twelve man juries. Twelve man juries are only required in capital. criminal cases and condemnation cases, and we feel that only one courtroom would need.to be designed to accomodate a twelve man jury. The proposed circuit courtrooms are just not large enough to accomodate a twelve man jury. Therefore, both of these should bc.- designed to accomodate seven man Juries, in a single row. In order that we might have one courtroom for a twelve man jury on the occasions when this is necessary, we are proposing that the county courtroom at the north end be designed to accomodate a twelve man jury. To accomplish this, the ,jury box rail would have to be moved forward to give room to add an additional row of seven chairs. The platform would have to be cularged for this second row of chairs, and the back row elevated six or seven inches higher than the front row. 2. The east circuit courtroom should have the north wall extended eight or tett'-feet into the proposed lobby area to provide a larger courtroom. !.' ?" 3. In both circuit courtrooms, there is insufficient room between the attorneys' tabes and the railing. The trend in liti- gation at present is multiple party actions with multiple attorneys. Since the courtrooms are each only 20 feet wide, this; does not give adequate work area. We would like to have the rail moved back (north) 2'8" in each courtroom, and benches placed inside the rail, adjacent to the rail for additional seating in the attorneys' area. 4. If at all possible, we would like to retain one window In e:)ch circuit courtroom, at the southernmost end, to prevent claustrophobia and to eliminate the necessity for emergency battery lighting. S. The present plan calls for individual window or wall air conditioning units, for the four circuit judges' office at the south end of the building. It appears that a new central air con- ditioni.nb system Is to be installed for the reception room, circuit hearing rooms and secretarial area. It is my understanding that window units costs at least twice as much to operate as a central system. Window units are noisy and it is difficult to conduct conferences or to concentrate with this noise. I understand that the original idea was that the Judges would be iii other counties part of the time and thus, the units would not be in use. As our county continues to grow, there will be less traveling by the circuit judges and more use of the offices here. JUN 2 51980