Morrow County is on track for a new courthouse
By Terry Murry on Tuesday, February 28th, 2023 in Columbia Basin News Featured Stories
HEPPNER – Morrow County District Attorney Justin Nelson said that the county’s request for funding to build a new courthouse is number two on the priority list for the Oregon Legislature and Board of Commissioners Chairman David Sykes is working to make a new courthouse a reality.
Nelson said that the lion’s share of that work was done by former Commissioner Melissa Lindsay, and it’s a relief to see Sykes continue the efforts. The court system asked Morrow County to make the move to a new courthouse because its current historic courthouse cannot provide the space needed for jury trials.
“When the courthouse was built in 1903, video screens on the wall was not an issue,” he said. “Giving the jurors as much space as possible was not an issue.”
Nelson said that it’s also taxing on the courtroom to serve as both a circuit court and the justice court. He added that it will enable the county’s historic building to grow to include other departments, especially if the district attorney’s office also moves to a new courthouse. Many questions remain unanswered.
“We’re trying to work towards finding a place for a courthouse,” he said. “Location is important. Where is it going to be? What’s the design? How are we going to have funding for it, because the state funding pays for half of it?”
