by Joe Wilhelm Jr.
Staff Writer
Recently designated Bryan Simpson U.S. Courthouse provides the federal judiciary with some of the latest tools to perform its duties.
The Jacksonville Division is part of the Middle District of Florida. It is one of the busiest federal district courts in the nation and encompasses nearly 400 miles from the Georgia border on the northeast to south of Naples on Florida’s southwest coast. In fiscal year 2006 a total of 8,561 civil and criminal cases were filed in the district, which also has offices in Ft. Myers, Ocala, Orlando and Tampa. Approximately 79 percent of those were civil cases.
The building has 14 floors above ground and a basement that provides underground parking. The underground parking and system of moving prisoners from the parking garage to the courtrooms helps the grand jury process.
“People could see witnesses who were testifying before the grand jury at the old courthouse,” said U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Gerald Tjoflat. “Here we can bring them in just like we do with prisoners, and it allows us to better conceal the identity of witnesses.”
The courthouse contains 17 courtrooms: a Circuit Court of Appeals; seven U.S. District Courts; one special proceedings court, four Magistrate Courtrooms and four Bankruptcy Courtrooms. The courtrooms are located on the corners of the building and elevators for transporting prisoners to courtrooms are located between them. There are also holding cells on each floor.
Prisoners are never alone in the building even after they are placed in holding cells while awaiting trial. One of the building’s 159 cameras will always have an eye on them. The U.S. Marshal Service and U.S. Attorney’s offices are located in the building as well. The U.S. Marshals provide security for the building and are responsible for transport and security of prisoners. The U.S. Attorney is the prosecutor representing the federal government.
All of the employees and courtrooms are located in a building that was completed in 2003 and it has earned multiple awards for its design. They included Southeast Construction Magazine’s Best of 2002 Award as the “Outstanding Public Project” and “Overall Judge’s Award.” Final construction cost was $84,414,948.
356-2466