KINGMAN, Ariz. – The newly renovated annex to the Historical Mohave County Courthouse in downtown Kingman is ready for occupancy. Some 25 Kingman Cerbat Justice Court personnel will operate in the new space, giddy to abandon outdated modular buildings near the Beale St./Interstate 40 interchange.
“We can’t be happier. We’ve been looking forward to this day for years,” said Cerbat Justice of the Peace David Wayt. “We’re very excited and we’re very motivated to make this move.”
“We were supposed to be there for probably five years, 25 years ago,” said Kingman Justice of the Peace Dave Huerta. “To see the renovated annex, it looks extremely professional and extremely inviting for staff members and Court personnel.”
Judges and staff look forward to improvements that will bring Justice Court technology more on par with what is used in Superior Court. They believe a modern facility will provide a more spacious and efficient environment for dispensing justice, absent some annoyances.
“In the courtrooms we’re using right now we’ve got air conditioning units, for example, that are extremely loud. Our microphones and cameras and things are outdated,” Judge Wayt said. “We’ll be able to hear better. We’ll be able to communicate better. People will be able to hear us better. It’s not just the technology that’s going to be upgraded; it’s the whole experience.”
In their current quarters, citizens crowd a hallway waiting for Justice Court hearings, stacking and backing up to windows where clerks assist others, sometimes involving sensitive, private matters. That’ll change in the Justice Court annex.
“We’re going to implement a new check-in process. People won’t be up at the windows waiting their turn to see a clerk. They’re going to draw a number and they’ll be pointing out to the clerk the reason why they’re at the court,” Judge Huerta said. “So, they’ll be able to relax and not have people stand around them while they’re at the windows dealing with maybe some of their personal information and personal reasons why they’re there.”
Personnel from an assortment of attorney and other offices within months will be relocating into the new Legal Services Center, just north of the Law and Justice Center. The Consolidate Justice Court move to the annex to the west is another component in the centralization of legal services within a few blocks.
“Location. Location. Location,” Judge Huerta said, as a person will be able to seek a passport or an order of protection, file for divorce or handle other matters with one stop shopping for legal service. “There are many times when people need to have business at either one, or both the Superior Court and Justice Court. Or they get confused about which court they should go to. Now they can just walk through a hallway or just down the sidewalk a little bit and they’re going to be in the other court.”
Concord General Contracting has completed the $6-million remodel. Staff will use Thursday and Friday to move into the annex, which will begin operating at the new location on Monday, Aug. 24.
A dedication event is scheduled Sept. 3.
