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HUNDREDS
OF PEOPLE CELEBRATE NEW BROCKTON
TRIAL COURT IN DEDICATION CEREMONY
Boston, MA--Several
hundred people, including judicial branch leaders, legislators,
city and state officials, judges, lawyers, court employees,
and community members gathered together today to dedicate
the Brockton Trial Court in a festive, ribbon-cutting ceremony
held in the newly built, brick courthouse, which opened last
August in downtown Brockton.
The
modern, four-story courthouse on Main Street houses the Brockton
District Court, and the Brockton courts of the Southeastern
Housing Court, the Plymouth Juvenile Court, the Plymouth Probate
and Family Court, as well as court clinics, offices for the
District Attorney, Department of Social Services, Department
of Youth Services, Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA),
and a Trial Court Child Care Center for children of people
with business in the courts.
The
ceremony, which was held in the spacious and airy atrium area
on the third floor, featured several guest speakers, including
Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Margaret H. Marshall,
Chief Justice for Administration and Management Barbara A.
Dortch-Okara, Division of Capital Asset Management Commissioner
David B. Perini, Housing Court Chief Justice George Daher,
Juvenile Court Chief Justice Martha P. Grace, District Court
Chief Justice Samuel E. Zoll, Brockton Mayor John T.Yunits,
State Senator Robert S. Creedon, Jr., and Assistant Chief
Probation Officer Joel West of the Brockton Juvenile Court.
Brockton District Court Judge David G. Nagle was master of
ceremonies. Retired Brockton District Court Presiding Justice
George N. Covett was a special guest.
Chief
Justice Marshall said, "Nothing gives me greater pleasure
than the rejuvenation of the judicial branch, which includes
the building of new courthouses in communities where they
are needed. This architectural jewel is a fitting tribute
to the people of Brockton and surrounding communities, as
well as to the judges, lawyers, and court employees who diligently
work each day to administer justice fairly."
Chief
Justice Dortch-Okara said, "The Brockton Courthouse is safe,
modern, well-equipped, and efficient. Through the commitment
of local civic leaders working in partnership with the courts,
legislators, other state and city officials, it represents
a significant achievement in the continuing plan to improve
courthouses throughout the Commonwealth."
National
Honor Society students from local high schools participated
in the festivities, as well as the Brockton High School Jazz
Ensemble, which provided the music. Reverend William McKoy
of the Christ Congregational Church gave the invocation.
The
$39.5 million Brockton courthouse, designed by Elkus/Manfredi
Architects, Ltd., has 13 natural light-filled courtrooms,
technologically equipped for laptop computers and handicapped-accessible.
There are private attorney-client conference rooms, comfortable
jury pool and jury deliberation rooms, and many modern security
features. The courthouse opened last year, three years after
the groundbreaking event in August 1997.
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