anchor Description
A judge's chamber for a new Court of Special Appeals judge will be constructed at the Montgomery County Circuit Court. In addition, a server room will be reconfigured for use for Circuit Court staff that are displaced by construction of the new chamber.
anchorEstimated Schedule
Construction is expected to begin in spring and is expected to be complete in the winter of that year.
anchor Justification
The Maryland Court system consists of three levels of courts that include the appellate, circuit court, and district courts. Montgomery County is in the appellate circuit and has one Court of Appeals judge and now three Court of Special Appeals judges that reside at the courthouse. This will be the first time that a fourth appellate judge will be housed in Montgomery County.When the Circuit Court recently replaced its case management system, that left space in a former server room available to accommodate staff that will be displaced by the new judge's chamber. In order to make the server room usable for office use, the current Halon fire suppression system will need to be replaced with a sprinkler system. The Halon system releases a gas that suffocates fires but could be dangerous to employees if they were to work in that environment.
anchorFiscal Note
supplemental in Current Revenue: General for the amount of G.O. Bonds for the amount of State Aid for the amount of
anchorDisclosures
The County Executive asserts that this project conforms to the requirement of relevant local plans, as required by the Maryland Economic Growth, Resource Protection and Planning Act.
anchorCoordination
Department of General Services, Maryland Judiciary Administrative Office of the Courts, Circuit Court, Department of Permitting Services.