Community Corner

Rockville Juvenile Courthouse on Closure List

If unions do not agree to concessions, workers will be laid off, positions will be eliminated and the courthouse will be closed in the trickle-down.

State union leaders on Monday released details on bylaw changes that would allow state workers to vote on concessions to avoid closures and layoffs. 

On Tuesday, the juvenile courthouse in Rockville was still on the closure list. 

The legislature, as part of a move to trim more than $1 billion off state spending, has ordered the Judicial Branch to trim its operations to the tune of $38 million. 

Among that is a plan to close six law libraries - including Rockville - to save $1 million and to shutter the juvenile courthouse on School Street in Rockville as part of a $900,000 savings plan. 

The Judicial Branch has a budget of about $496 million. 

To reach the budget cutting goal, the branch has outlined 452 layoffs, 150 position eliminations, and a plethora of program and operations closings related to them. 

Chief Justice Chase T. Rogers made it clear that he thinks the plan will compromise the effectiveness of the system, but the branch nevertheless has to do what it is told by legislators.

''We don’t have the option of turning away any cases, so we must do our best to adjudicate the over 550,000 cases that come to our courts every year, with significantly reduced funding. Clearly, it is necessary to prioritize, and I can assure you that criminal cases will be our top priority,'' he said. 

Rogers continued, "As Chief Justice, I am responsible for the administration of the Judicial Branch. My message has been consistent that we must do more with less and look for innovative ways to best serve the public with reduced resources."

If state unions do not reach an agreement on concessions and the plan is implemented, Rockville Juvenile Court would close and Tolland County cases would be moved to Willimantic and Hartford. 

Judicial Branch spokeswoman Rhonda Stearley-Hebert said there are 18 Judicial Branch employees at the juvenile courthouse in Rockville, not including the judge, who is considered a constitutional officer and not classified as an employee per-se. 

Marshals are called to the building from Superior Court down the street.

There are three employees of the office of the state's attorney and public defender's office, she said. 

Stearley-Hebert said because the courthouse is closing does not necessarily mean those employees will lose their jobs. Layoffs will be assigned in reverse order of seniority, so the workers in Rockville could be transferred instead if they are not on the layoff list.  

Exactly who could be laid off has not been determined yet, she said. 

Closing the juvenile courthouse could present logistical problems, Strearley-Hebert said, because many who go there, particularly from Vernon, need to use public transportation. Buses can be taken to Hartford, but driving a half-hour to Willimantic is prohibitive for many people,'' she said. 

Police officers would also be spending more time traveling to and from juvenile cases, she added. 

It could have a small impact economically on Downtown Rockville. 

"We do get some parents with the kids in here for breakfast,'' said Sandi Johndrow, whose family owns Russ' Time Rock 'N' Roll Diner in Rockville. "This is a good place for them to get a quick bite to eat before heading over there.'' 

Stearley-Hebert said that the decision to close facilities would be a direct consequence of having fewer people after the layoffs. 

''Hopefully, we will have an agreement and this doesn't happen,'' she said.


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