Jefferson County Courthouse

Jefferson County approves funds to keep courts open until mid-July (with video)

Last week's county layoffs left no one to staff security stations at the entrances to four of the five court buildings in the Birmingham and Bessemer divisions of the 10th Judicial Circuit.

County Clerk Anne-Marie Adams found enough money to keep the security stations open through this week, the only scheduled jury-trial week until July 18.

Commissioners called an emergency meeting Wednesday, planning to provide another week's worth of funding to keep the county-paid employees at the court security stations.

But Commission President David Carrington amended the motion to provide $27,000, enough to keep the security stations staffed through July 15.

Carrington and commissioners Joe Knight, Sandra Little Brown and Jimmie Stephens voted for the funding extension. Commissioner George Bowman was absent.

Knight has a motion pending to provide the $144,000 total needed to keep the security stations staffed through Sept. 30, the end of the budget year. A vote could come as early as Tuesday, he said.

"I want to keep pushing," Knight said after the called meeting. "I am adamant we not close the criminal courts."

Circuit Judge Scott Vowell, the presiding judge, said Wednesday's vote was a stop-gap measure.

"This will give the commissioners time to look at their funding cuts and see if they can reverse the decision on the security stations," he said. "I can't imagine anything more important to the people of this county than the courts."

A state budget cut that took effect in May left a severe shortage of bailiffs who provide security in courtrooms. Since May, six bailiffs have been divided among 12 judges in the criminal courts building in downtown Birmingham.

The security officers at courthouse entrances screen people and packages for weapons or other dangerous items. With the combined security reductions, court officials were concerned that an already tense environment would become dangerous for workers and the public.

Unless enough money can be found to keep the security stations open, officials plan to close most court buildings to the public starting June 27 until adequate security can provided.

That would end all criminal cases and most traffic cases in the Birmingham division, criminal and civil cases in the Bessemer courthouse and most juvenile hearings at Family Court.

Jefferson County approves funds to keep courts open until mid-July ...

The Jefferson County Commission voted Wednesday to provide enough money to keep all five court buildings open three more weeks, and a commissioner said he would continue efforts to keep the courts open through Sept. 30.

Last week's county layoffs left no one to staff security stations at the entrances to four of the five court buildings in the Birmingham and Bessemer divisions of the 10th Judicial Circuit.

County Clerk Anne-Marie Adams found enough money to keep the security stations open through this week, the only scheduled jury-trial week until July 18.

Commissioners called an emergency meeting Wednesday, planning to provide another week's worth of funding to keep the county-paid employees at the court security stations.

But Commission President David Carrington amended the motion to provide $27,000, enough to keep the security stations staffed through July 15.

Carrington and commissioners Joe Knight, Sandra Little Brown and Jimmie Stephens voted for the funding extension. Commissioner George Bowman was absent.

Knight has a motion pending to provide the $144,000 total needed to keep the security stations staffed through Sept. 30, the end of the budget year. A vote could come as early as Tuesday, he said.

"I want to keep pushing," Knight said after the called meeting. "I am adamant we not close the criminal courts."

Circuit Judge Scott Vowell, the presiding judge, said Wednesday's vote was a stop-gap measure.

"This will give the commissioners time to look at their funding cuts and see if they can reverse the decision on the security stations," he said. "I can't imagine anything more important to the people of this county than the courts."

A state budget cut that took effect in May left a severe shortage of bailiffs who provide security in courtrooms. Since May, six bailiffs have been divided among 12 judges in the criminal courts building in downtown Birmingham.

The security officers at courthouse entrances screen people and packages for weapons or other dangerous items. With the combined security reductions, court officials were concerned that an already tense environment would become dangerous for workers and the public.

Unless enough money can be found to keep the security stations open, officials plan to close most court buildings to the public starting June 27 until adequate security can provided.

That would end all criminal cases and most traffic cases in the Birmingham division, criminal and civil cases in the Bessemer courthouse and most juvenile hearings at Family Court.

Jefferson County courthouse, 1931-1984

History of Jefferson County

The Pacific reporter

I am the Jefferson County Courthouse, and other poems

Jefferson County Courthouse, Bessemer, Alabama, dedication ceremony, Sunday, November 9, 1980, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00