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County Attorney
Susan Bevers participated in the August 20, 2009 County Commissioners meeting regarding the need for additional office space
and a permanent home for Superior Court 2.
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Commissioners John Schafstall
and Jerry Hounshel agreed that Superior Court 2 and the county assessor's office were the most important issues. Hounshel
also said he saw the need for central records storage.
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Several attorneys spoke of the need for moving Jackson Superior Court 2
from its present location in the courthouse annex.
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Rodney Farrow, who preceded Susan Bevers as
the county attorney, said he worked with commissioners when Jackson Superior Court 1 was built in Seymour. When Superior Court 1 was constructed, the idea at that time was that a wing
could be added to Jackson Superior Court I, Farrow said.
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Farrow, who also was county attorney when Jackson Superior Court 2 began operations in the annex, said that was supposed
to be a temporary location and more than 18 months have passed since that time. Farrow said there is an additional courtroom at Jackson Superior Court 1, and commissioners should consider
moving Jackson Superior Court 2 there to help with space needs.
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Seymour attorney Tom Lantz said that a court needs to look like a court, and Jackson Superior Court
2 is not located in such a building. Lantz also said attorneys
need to have places to meet with their clients besides crowded hallways where others can listen. Lantz said Jackson Superior Court 2 Judge Bruce MacTavish and his staff do a good job of trying to
provide for the needs of attorneys and their clients.
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Former Jackson Circuit Judge Robert Brown, who does pro bono work mediating dissolution cases at the court, agreed with
Lantz. “This is not a good facility for a court,” Brown said.
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A decision
is pending.