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New Will County Courthouse Opens

 



By: John Raspante

On Friday, about 100 Will County judges, politicians, and court officials attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the brand-new Will County Courthouse. The new 10-story courthouse on the site of the former Midwest Bank property has been completed after three short years of construction.

            At the opening ceremony, Will County’s long-time Chief Judge Richard Schoenstedt oversaw the event. Speakers included Joliet Mayor Bob O’Dekirk, State Rep. Larry Walsh Jr., Will County Board member Mike Fricilone, Will County Board Speaker Mimi Cowan, Interim Executive Denise Winfrey, and Illinois Supreme Court Justice Thomas Kilbride.

            In order to adhere to social distancing, 60 of the attendees were seated on the main floor of the building while the other 40 were seated at the second floor balcony. Everyone wore a mask while inside during the 45-minute ceremony. Judge Schoenstedt reminded all the other judges in attendance to remember the importance of the new courthouse, and that he hoped it would help to keep “providing justice for all.”

            Over 1,700 men and women built the new courthouse since December of 2017. The building features terrazzo floors and solar panels, with escalators going from the first to second floor and the second to third floor.

            The first floor of the building will have a larger jury commission room. Lower level floors are going to contain offices and courtrooms for criminal misdemeanor, civil small claims, and adult probation courts. The fourth and fifth floor will hold criminal felony courts, the public defender’s office and a small café. Floors six and seven will include family courts, while floors eight and nine will include additional courts. Finally, the tenth floor will hold a grand jury.

            The building has 38 courtrooms in total, and is set to open for use on Monday, Nov. 2.

Image courtesy of John Ferak | Patch

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