With carpet and tiles being installed, the new Duval County Courthouse is closer to completion and members of the Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association stopped by Thursday for a tour.
Courthouse Project Manager Dave Schneider informed the group of about 18 people that it is on schedule to open in May.
“Everyone was curious about what the courthouse looked like and its progress,” said Stephanie Harriett, JWLA president.
“We are looking to provide special benefits for our members and this was one of the exclusive events we came up with,” she said.
Another attendee had a more vested interest in the tour. Circuit Judge Peter Dearing will work in one of the offices on the seventh floor and preside over cases in the courtrooms.
“I appreciated the opportunity to tour the courthouse with members of JWLA,” said Dearing. “The courtrooms reminded me of the elegance of the old federal courthouse.”
Schneider explained features of the building as the tour progressed through the building and he was able to answer questions about the judges’ chambers.
None of the judges’ chambers is equipped with a shower and the building does not include an exercise room for the judges, said Schneider.
Wiring for computers and communications started recently.
The tour included stops at a county courtroom, jury assembly room, café, lawyers’ lounge and law library as well as judges’ offices.
JWLA will host body language expert Susan Constantine, who was seen on CNN “In Session” court TV during the Casey Anthony trial, at its monthly luncheon Wednesday at The River Club.
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