Federal Judiciary Cites Needs For New Courthouse Construction

     The security of some federal courthouses is so inadequate, the only remedy is to build a new facility, a representative of the policy-making Judicial Conference of the United States told Congress.

     “The federal government’s war on terrorism has impacted the courts in two ways: it has increased the judiciary’s workload and it necessitates more secure facilities,” said Judge Jane R. Roth of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, who chairs the Conference’s Committee on Security and Facilities.

     “Congress provided some funds after September 11, 2001, for the judiciary to enhance its security, but the security of some courthouses is so inadequate that it can only be remedied by replacement of the facility,” she told a House Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management. She sought the subcommittee’s authorization, a prerequisite for funding.

     Roth’s testimony added: “In these troubled times when courthouses are such visible targets for terrorists, ensuring the security of courthouses is more important than ever ... There is no telling where or when the next terrorist-related case might be held. Therefore, security of courthouses all across our country is one of our primary concerns.”

     Roth noted that the President’s fiscal year 2004 budget request did not include any funding for courthouse construction projects. “Faced with this development, the judiciary has determined it necessary to submit a courthouse construction budget request directly to Congress and has asked the Appropriations Committee that GSA receive any fiscal year 2004 appropriation approved for courthouses,” she said.

     Specifically, the judiciary’s request seeks FY 2004 funding for courthouse construction projects in Los Angeles, Richmond, Va., San Antonio, Anniston, Ala., Harrisburg, Pa., Greenville, S.C., Toledo, Ohio, Charlotte, N.C., Orlando, Savannah, Ga., San Jose, Calif., Buffalo, N.Y., Fort Pierce, Fla., Jackson, Miss., El Paso, Tex., Mobile, Ala., Norfolk, Va., Las Cruces, N.M., Salt Lake City, Rockford, Ill., Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Greensboro, N.C., Benton, Ill., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Nashville and Sioux Falls, S.D.