Richland County unveils new Common Pleas courtroom

MANSFIELD — The Richland County Common Pleas Court officially unveiled its newest courtroom Friday morning, promising faster hearings and improved service for the public.

Community members, elected officials and court staff gathered on the second floor of the Richland County Administration Building to celebrate the ribbon-cutting of Courtroom 4 in the General Division.

Judge Phillip S. Naumoff thanked the community and county officials for their support.

Naumoff said the project has been in the works for about four years, to which Court Administrator Tammy Wurthmann corrected him, saying it was 2023.

“It’s been in the works for a couple of years,” Naumoff said. “But it feels longer.”

Naumoff recognized Wurthmann for her role in bringing the project to completion.

“It was her foresight, dedication and countless hours of effort that made this courtroom possible,” he said.

He also emphasized the importance of the new space in improving the judicial process.

“To effectuate justice, we have to keep things moving,” he said. “This fourth courtroom will greatly help us.”

(Picture from the ribbon-cutting. Article continues below pictures. Credit: Hannah Martin)

Robinson spotlights safety and more efficient hearings

Judge Brent Robinson praised the collaboration behind the project.

“This shows what teamwork can do,” Robinson said. “It turned out really well.”

Robinson highlighted the courtroom’s enhanced security compared with the nearby hearing room.

“This is actually a much safer facility for everyone involved,” he said.

Courtroom 4 will host a range of proceedings, including bench trials, jury trials, civil protection order hearings, bond hearings, visiting judges and court of appeals cases. Robinson said the additional space will help the court conduct more hearings efficiently.

“The public is entitled to speedy justice, and this courtroom will help us deliver that,” he said.

A courtroom years in the making

The project has been in the planning stages for several years, moving forward after the county commissioners opened bids for construction. During that, four of the five bids came in below their $750,000 estimated budget.

The need for a fourth courtroom began in 2021 as a result of COVID-19. Judges Robinson and Naumoff noted the court struggled to maintain social distancing while keeping up with a busy schedule of criminal and civil hearings.

Maintenance Staff Leader Josh Hicks, Craig Christie, McCready Interiors, EmHoff Construction and Architect from MAD Studio Brad Maurer were all recognized by Richland County Commissioner Darrell Banks.

“They did a great job with a lot of cooperation,” Banks said. “This was not an easy thing to get together, but it is beautiful and turned out wonderful.”

(Press release provided by Board of Commissioners)