[6/30/04]As court officials settled in to new digs Tuesday at Warren County’s additional circuit courtroom on Clay Street, some jurors found more than the accommodations up to par.

“Good coffee and good doughnuts,” said Doug Jeter, a juror in the first case held in the new facility, as he gestured to a box of the treats from Shipley’s.

The building, at 1220 Clay St., was originally a car dealership and in recent years housed River Region Health System offices.

Warren County Circuit Court Judge Frank Vollor spearheaded an effort for additional courtroom space for him and the county’s other circuit judge, Isadore Patrick.

“We’re very pleased,” Vollor said. “They’ve outfitted us very well.”

The building at Clay and Farmer streets is equipped with judge’s chambers; jury, witness and breakrooms; offices for the court clerk, the court bailiff and court reporters; restroom facilities; and the courtroom itself. New and used furniture fills the rooms, and the public has cushioned folding chairs in the courtroom.

The Warren County Board of Supervisors approved renting the space in March after repeated requests from Vollor and a committee of the Warren County Bar Association.

Vollor’s plea for more room came on the heels of a Mississippi Supreme Court suggestion that called for civil and criminal cases to be resolved in a more timely manner. Warren County has had only one circuit courtroom and jury deliberation room available in the past.

According to the Supreme Court, civil cases should be resolved within 18 months of the date they were filed and felony charges should be resolved within nine months of a grand jury indictment.

“Things are moving faster already,” Vollor said, adding that civil cases are being resolved within about 23 months.

Space has been a thorn for the judges, Vollor said, because the two have to work around the other’s schedule, losing weeks of trial time during the year.

“There have been times when I’ve been available to try cases, but I didn’t have a place to try them.”

Both Patrick and Vollor have served as judges for the 9th Circuit Court District, which includes Warren, Issaquena and Sharkey counties, since 1989.

The second judgeship was added here about 25 years ago.

Vollor said the Clay Street building is temporary until the county can finance and build an annex to the Cherry Street courthouse.

Supervisors have said a new wing will have to wait until only five years is left on a $5.3 million bond issue that was passed for the juvenile detention center. Ten years remain on that 20-year bond issue.

The county is leasing the Clay Street space for three years with two one-year extension options at $2,300 per month.