05 October 2010

Arapahoe County Court Waits Intentionally Long

When Arapahoe County criminal courts were consolidated into the Arapahoe County Justice Center in August, officials said it would help streamline things.

But long lines that were already commonplace at the justice center on South Potomac Street have only gotten worse as people reporting for jury duty, paying tickets or attending court hearings often wait for 15 minutes or longer just to get into the building.

On Monday, several dozen people waited in a line about 50 yards long — and that was just to get into the main lobby, where another line snaked its way to the security scanners.

"It's bad, especially when you have to be in court at 8:30 (a.m.) and you don't get there until 9," said Jeff Lewis, who was waiting in line Monday morning. . . .

Laurie McKager, court administrator for the 18th Judicial District, said officials anticipated the traffic-flow problem before the county court moved into the justice center.


From here (emphasis added).

Foresight is a great thing, but only if you act upon it.

If you knew there would be intense traffic-flow problems (and it was bad even before the county court criminal cases were moved there), why didn't you delay the move until you were ready to deal with it?

The court is supposed to have the resources to make the system work at the end of October, and surely hasn't improved the situation by moving two months before they were ready to handle the situation.

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