The sixth amendment to the United States Constitution grants criminal defendants the right to a speedy and public trial. However, due to the rapid growth in Flathead County and increase in crime, county judges are seeing higher caseloads. In 2021, Montana State Administrators decided a fifth District Court judge in Flathead would greatly help:
- Alleviate the backlog of cases in the court system, which results in lengthy delays and an increased workload for judges, prosecutors, and staff. By adding a judge, the court can handle more cases in a timely manner and that our limited county detention facility can find relief.
- The law enforcement community know there is more certainty about cases getting to trial so they can focus on their other duties instead of waiting for the resolution.
- Bring a different perspective and approach which could help law enforcement better understand the legal system and how their work fits into it.
Getting the approval for a fifth district court judge was the first step; but the Flathead County Justice Center only had four courtrooms and no room to build a fifth. After careful consideration and planning, it was determined that only by moving several departments from the Justice Center to other facilities around the county, the center could be renovated to accommodate a fifth courtroom.
Flathead County purchased the Century Link building (now called the North Complex) and after a remodel, the Superintendent of Schools, Family Court Services, Elections, and the Treasurer’s department, moved offices to the North Complex. The Courthouse West building was converted into two courtrooms and office space that the Justice Court then moved into, freeing space on the second floor in the Justice Center, to build a new courtroom and office for a fifth district court judge and staff.
“It was a complex game of dominos,” said Whitney Aschenwald, Flathead County’s project manager and grant writer. “We had to complete three significant building renovation projects and move five departments at staggered periods of time to finally create the empty space needed to build the fifth courtroom.”
“We could not have done it without Martel Construction and Cushing Terrell,” continued Aschenwald. “They were able to manage the different phases and tight timeline despite all the supply chain issues and labor shortages that have been challenging to the industry and our area.”
After much shuffling, Flathead County opened its fifth District Court courtroom in April to accommodate the trial load for Judge Danni Coffman, Flathead County’s fifth district judge.
If all this moving around has left you a bit confused, we understand. If you need to renew your license tag, pay taxes, attend a commissioner’s meeting, or find a courtroom, use the GIS virtual tour of county government buildings located in and around Kalispell, Montana: Flathead County Campus Tour (mt.gov).