Courtrooms to Stay Closed Another Week

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Category: News

Created on Thursday, 05 December 2024 15:00

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By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
    Public access to court rooms on the second floor of the city-state building, which has been limited to everyone except court staff since Nov. 21, will remain on hold for the coming week, a state court official told the Sentinel Wednesday.
    “We’re doing air quality testing out of an abundance of caution to ensure that the environment is safe for the court customers and the public,” area court administrator Clayton Jones said by telephone from his Juneau office.

TEMPORARY COURTHOUSE - Plaintiff’s attorney James McGowan, right, listens to rebuttal arguments during a civil case being held in Harrigan Centennial Hall Tuesday afternoon. The Sitka court room and administrative offices in the 304 Lake Street office building have been closed because of air quality concerns. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)

    The court system’s customer service counter closed without prior notice to the public two weeks ago, and courtrooms were closed for trials and other District and Superior Court procedures.
    “We’re conducting the jury trial at Centennial Hall and we’re doing court operations remotely,” Jones said. “We expect to be in remote operations through the 13th.”
    A long-scheduled Superior Court civil trial opened last week at Harrigan Centennial Hall. The trial was continuing today in the Assembly meeting room, where the furniture has been rearranged for a makeshift judge’s bench, jury box, witness stand, and gallery for spectators.
    Jones said his office is “working on some alternative solutions to court-related needs in the community and when we have more information, we’ll certainly share that… in-person assistance is very limited right now.”
    He said those with court-related business should call 907-747-3291 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , and “court staff will contact them as soon as possible.”
    The trial underway at Centennial Hall is a civil suit for malpractice damages against a doctor who formerly practiced at Sitka Community Hospital. Dr. Richard McGrath and the City and Borough of Sitka are defendants in the lawsuit, filed by one of McGrath’s former patients.

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