Judge orders J&D court closed

The advance of Tropical Storm Helene last week caused further damage to the municipal building at 55 W. Church St., and on Friday, Presiding Judge Susan Deatherage and Presiding Judge Kimberly Belongia filed an order closing the courtroom and offices the court clerk’s cellar.

“Out of necessity and for the safety of all who work and transact business with the Martinsville Juvenile & Domestic District Court and the Clerk’s Office, due to persistent water intrusion into the ceiling of the Clerk’s Office, the Judge’s Office and the Courtroom in the Martinsville Juvenile and Domestic District Court and Clerk’s Office “The clerk’s office at the domestic district court will be closed beginning at 11 a.m. on September 27,” reads a copy of the order posted on the door of the clerk’s office. “All business that needs to be conducted with the clerk’s office will be affected. If you require immediate assistance, please contact the Court Services Unit, Room 29 and leave your contact information. The clerk will return your call as soon as possible. We are making every effort alternative arrangements are being made to limit inconvenience to the public.”

Chief and Presiding District Court Judge Carter Greer ordered the Martinsville City Council to repair the Martinsville Municipal Building and asked the Chief Justice of the Virginia Supreme Court to appoint a judge in a Sept. 12 order, according to a Martinsville Bulletin appoint to lead the matter On the same day, the story “City Hall in a Bad State” appeared, describing the dilapidated condition of the lowest level of the municipal building.

“Last week’s heavy rains caused leaks in multiple locations throughout the building, not just the basement,” said Andy Hall, Martinsville Commonwealth’s Attorney, whose offices are also in the basement. “The police station was flooded with water. A back wall in the basement quickly turned into a waterfall, and a conference room was also flooded.”

Hall said the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court (JDR) has found three sewage leaks since September 12.

“Sometimes toilet paper residue could be seen in the leaking water. The most recent pipe failure was surrounded by wires and cables,” Hall said. “A court clerk made the mistake of lifting one of the leaking ceiling tiles, causing water from the sewer line to spill onto it. The clerks also determined that a bucket had simply been placed under one of the leaking pipes.”

Martinsville General District Judge Joan Ziglar previously closed her main level courtroom due to damage and is holding court in the council chambers upstairs.

“No repair work has begun on the General District Court courtroom,” Hall said. “I have been told, but I cannot confirm, that the reason no work has been carried out is due to the presence of mold and asbestos. It’s getting worse and the situation is not safe.”

On Monday, Hall said he learned that a water heater installed in the adjacent prison in the 1960s was almost rusted through at the bottom and would cost an estimated $7,000 to replace.

“The Sally Port [at the police station] “The steel is falling away from the rest of the building and the cracks are covered with tape,” Hall said. “The steel frame casing of the sally port was displaced in such a way that the huge bolts that once held the frame in place were torn off.”

After Greer served a directive to council members to look into the matter, the council held a special closed-door meeting the following week to discuss the directive. No statement was made or action taken following the meeting.