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Court moves into new office space
By Ted Morris and Jonathon Shacat/Wick Communications
SIERRA VISTA - A Darth Vader mask sat on Judge Ann Littrell's desk amid piles of notes and books.
It was late in January, and the Superior Court Division IV judge appeared a bit tired and somewhat relieved as she and her staff have just moved the court for the second time in recent years into the judicial/juvenile detention building of the Sierra Vista Regional Services Center.
"It's really quite a big deal to move a court," Littrell said.
Technicians were still working on phones and computers. Communication cables were present, as there was drywall dust and the smell of fresh paint.
The mask is among the toys that Littrell awards to children who successfully make it through certain cases in her juvenile court.
"Court's scary," she noted. "It's scary for adults."
Littrell cites some big improvements at the Colonia de Salud facility, which houses juvenile detainees in one section.
For example, there is a spacious, comfortable jury conference room. Also, the courtroom features a "cry room," which will allow overwrought kids and adults to get soundproof breathing space without interrupting proceedings that can continue beyond a large window that separates the booth from the rest of the courtroom.
There has been a temporary lull in Division IV's court activity. Littrell, who averages 65 hearings a week, expected to resume court Thursday morning.
Division IV was temporarily housed at the county's 4001 E. Foothills Drive facilities while the Colonia de Salud judicial complex was being expanded and remodeled since last March.
A significant change at Colonia de Salud - a sprawling campus of hospital and county government buildings located between the San Pedro River and Sierra Vista on Highway 90 - includes its becoming the new home today of Superior Court Division I. That court, led by Judge Charles Irwin, was previously located in the historic County Courthouse in Old Bisbee.
In a way, this move is a combining of two courts, Littrell said, noting her Division IV handles juvenile cases and Irwin's Division I handles family matters.
Another huge change involves Clerk of the Court Denise Lundin's office moving to Colonia de Salud. Her office made the transition on Monday and Tuesday.
"It has been a major move," Lundin said Tuesday. "We also thank the public for understanding that we just couldn't do business and move at the same time."
Lundin said the move was going "really smoothly," and she added, "I just have to give so much credit to the county's facilities director, L.H. Hamilton, and his assistant, Lynn Hu. They are the coordinators of this thing and they have done a wonderful job."
Irwin said he is looking forward to the changes.
"It's an opportunity for the Superior Court to bring more direct services to residents of Cochise County that live west of the San Pedro, and it will be an exciting expansion of our Superior Court services," he said.
Irwin said his court will hear everything from criminal matters and jury trials to civil matters and domestic relations. Irwin's schedule, according to the county Web site, indicates he will resume business on Thursday, hearing a matter between two individuals who plan to represent themselves without legal counsel.
Irwin said moving into the new building is fun, but dealing with glitches can be frustrating.
"The internal dynamics of how you make one of these moves happen is phenomenal at best," he said.
Court information
€ The new address for Division I is 100 Colonia de Salud, Suite 203, Sierra Vista AZ 85635. The new telephone number is 803-3300.
€ Division IV's new address is the same, except it is Suite 202. The phone is 803-3080.
€ Contact Clerk of Court Denise Lundin via e-mail at dlundin@courts.az.gov.
Herald/Review City Editor Ted Morris can be reached at 515-4614 or by e-mail at cityeditor@svherald.com. Herald/Review reporter Jonathon Shacat can be reached at 515-4693 or by e-mail at jonathon.shacat@bisbeereview.net.
It was late in January, and the Superior Court Division IV judge appeared a bit tired and somewhat relieved as she and her staff have just moved the court for the second time in recent years into the judicial/juvenile detention building of the Sierra Vista Regional Services Center.
"It's really quite a big deal to move a court," Littrell said.
Technicians were still working on phones and computers. Communication cables were present, as there was drywall dust and the smell of fresh paint.
The mask is among the toys that Littrell awards to children who successfully make it through certain cases in her juvenile court.
"Court's scary," she noted. "It's scary for adults."
Littrell cites some big improvements at the Colonia de Salud facility, which houses juvenile detainees in one section.
For example, there is a spacious, comfortable jury conference room. Also, the courtroom features a "cry room," which will allow overwrought kids and adults to get soundproof breathing space without interrupting proceedings that can continue beyond a large window that separates the booth from the rest of the courtroom.
There has been a temporary lull in Division IV's court activity. Littrell, who averages 65 hearings a week, expected to resume court Thursday morning.
Division IV was temporarily housed at the county's 4001 E. Foothills Drive facilities while the Colonia de Salud judicial complex was being expanded and remodeled since last March.
A significant change at Colonia de Salud - a sprawling campus of hospital and county government buildings located between the San Pedro River and Sierra Vista on Highway 90 - includes its becoming the new home today of Superior Court Division I. That court, led by Judge Charles Irwin, was previously located in the historic County Courthouse in Old Bisbee.
In a way, this move is a combining of two courts, Littrell said, noting her Division IV handles juvenile cases and Irwin's Division I handles family matters.
Another huge change involves Clerk of the Court Denise Lundin's office moving to Colonia de Salud. Her office made the transition on Monday and Tuesday.
"It has been a major move," Lundin said Tuesday. "We also thank the public for understanding that we just couldn't do business and move at the same time."
Lundin said the move was going "really smoothly," and she added, "I just have to give so much credit to the county's facilities director, L.H. Hamilton, and his assistant, Lynn Hu. They are the coordinators of this thing and they have done a wonderful job."
Irwin said he is looking forward to the changes.
"It's an opportunity for the Superior Court to bring more direct services to residents of Cochise County that live west of the San Pedro, and it will be an exciting expansion of our Superior Court services," he said.
Irwin said his court will hear everything from criminal matters and jury trials to civil matters and domestic relations. Irwin's schedule, according to the county Web site, indicates he will resume business on Thursday, hearing a matter between two individuals who plan to represent themselves without legal counsel.
Irwin said moving into the new building is fun, but dealing with glitches can be frustrating.
"The internal dynamics of how you make one of these moves happen is phenomenal at best," he said.
Court information
€ The new address for Division I is 100 Colonia de Salud, Suite 203, Sierra Vista AZ 85635. The new telephone number is 803-3300.
€ Division IV's new address is the same, except it is Suite 202. The phone is 803-3080.
€ Contact Clerk of Court Denise Lundin via e-mail at dlundin@courts.az.gov.
Herald/Review City Editor Ted Morris can be reached at 515-4614 or by e-mail at cityeditor@svherald.com. Herald/Review reporter Jonathon Shacat can be reached at 515-4693 or by e-mail at jonathon.shacat@bisbeereview.net.
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