Lane County Justice Center Information & Input Session

UPDATE: The Open House has been cancelled due to concerns about the COVID-19 virus and recommendations about social distancing and avoidance of large groups. The event will likely be rescheduled to a future date to be determined. Stay tuned.

The 61-year old Lane County Courthouse is beset by numerous shortcomings. Many of these, such as the building’s limited size and infrastructural weaknesses, are largely insurmountable. The current courthouse is now serving twice the population it was originally designed for back in the 1950s. Space limitations cause inefficiencies that lead to late start times, delays in the courtroom, and juggling of locations. There is no space to add programs that could speed resolutions. The building puts courthouse users, victims, and defendants close to each other, posing obvious risks. Equitable access is severely lacking in many instances, including within the courtrooms, restrooms, and the Grand Jury room.

Lane County retained Robertson/Sherwood/Architects (my firm) in 2018 to assist with identifying a prudent project scope for a new replacement. Working with national judicial facility experts DLR Group, we analyzed the 2016 Court Facility Needs Assessment prepared by the National Center for State Courts and tested the appropriateness of the former Eugene City Hall block as a site for a new courthouse. We worked closely with staff representing the Lane County Circuit Court, Lane County District Attorney, and the Lane County Sheriff’s Office in this effort, ultimately developing a proposal with an associated budget for presentation to the county electorate in May of 2019.

The results of that election were clear as a broad majority failed to support the proposed bond issue. Unfortunately, the need for a new courthouse hasn’t gone away, and the current facility’s challenges will only become more acute with each passing year if nothing is done.

Since last May’s vote, the County has worked to identify the best path forward. This effort has included meeting with and polling community members to determine the reasons for their rejection of that ballot measure. Many voters believed there were too many outstanding questions about the project, so the project team is working to address those questions and ask the community for feedback. This effort includes an electronic survey (conducted between October 2019 and January of this year), community events, and conversations around the county to give community members a chance to learn more and to respond with their thoughts.

Clearly, there was a significant level of misunderstanding among voters about what the proposed project entailed. Many people unfamiliar with the current courthouse and its functions questioned the need for a new facility, some confusing it with the nearby and relatively new federal courthouse. Others conflated the controversies associated with the Eugene City Hall project with the County’s purchase of the former City Hall site and the ask for a new building. A significant number of voters were not aware of the full variety of services provided in the current courthouse (this has prompted the County’s switch from using the term “courthouse” to “justice center”).

At a high level, citizens emphasized concerns about the cost of the project. Admittedly, a new courthouse/justice center will not be inexpensive. That said, the County heard the message loud and clear, so our team has thoroughly examined trade-offs and opportunities to decrease costs.

Notably, if local voters support a bond issue for a new Lane County Justice Center, the State of Oregon would provide a 50% funding match for the portion of the project associated with the courts portion of the program. This match is available thanks to legislation intended to address a “serious, statewide infrastructure problem;” however, Lane County will not receive any State funding if it cannot secure its citizens’ approval.

The County is hosting a public Open House in the existing courthouse, which presents a unique opportunity for everyone to tour the facility and see the building’s shortcomings firsthand. I encourage my readers to attend and learn more about the project status and add your perspectives and insights. Here are the details:

What:              Lane County Justice Center: Community Information & Input Session

When:             Thursday, March 12; 5:30 – 7:00 PM

Where:            Lane County Courthouse lobby, 125 E. 8^th Avenue, Eugene

Cost:                Free. Refreshments provided

RSVP:              No registration or RSVP required

The project team (which also includes the public engagement consulting firm Cogito) has already met with various interest groups (including the legal community, accessibility advocates, social services providers, and business leaders) and conducted outreach in general at numerous public outlets. We’ve harvested important and encouraging feedback, which we hope to build upon at this week’s event.

Me "holding court" with one of the Justice Center's design input groups (photo by Christopher Trotchie)

Ultimately, we’ll use the information we gather to help the Board of County Commissioners decide whether to again refer the question of a new building to Lane County voters.  

If you can’t make it to Thursday’s community Open House, be sure to check out the project’s website, which is chock-full of helpful information. If your time is short, at least take a moment to watch the video on the home page. In less than three brief minutes, the eye-opening piece highlights the existing courthouse’s myriad deficiencies.