Caldwell County gets green light from state for $33 million judicial center

Officials with Kentucky's Administrative Office of the Courts announced Wednesday that planning can move ahead for a new judicial center in Caldwell County.

Chief Justice of the Commonwealth Debra Hembree Lambert named local members of the Caldwell Project Development Board who are responsible for overseeing the $33 million court construction project.

County and court officials will have a voice in site selection, design, and the hiring of an architect and contractor. 

After an orientation on July 25, the project development board will host its first public meeting. The sessions are open to everyone to get updates on site selection, project design, construction progress, and the bidding process. 

Once the site is chosen, the design phase is expected to last up to two years, with construction taking another two years to complete.

The Kentucky General Assembly approved the project as part of the Judicial Branch’s budget for fiscal years 2024 to 2026. In May, the Caldwell County Fiscal Court advanced plans for the center, with a memorandum of understanding from the state.

While Caldwell County will own the new judicial center, construction and maintenance costs will be covered by the Administrative Office of the Courts through the Judicial Branch budget. 

Officials said that new and renovated judicial centers feature state-of-the-art computer, video, and networking technology. It will improve court security with single-point entry systems with magnetometers and designated entrances and corridors to ensure inmates remain separate from the public.


(Photo: Kentucky Courts Facebook)