Lansing City Hall closure forces 54A District Court to close Dec. 24 -- Jan. 3rd

By Roberta M. Gubbins Legal News "This is not our choice or preference," said Judge Frank DeLuca, announcing the closing of 54A District Court from December 24 through January 3, 2010 due to closure of Lansing City Hall building, which houses the court on the fifth and sixth floors. "We here at the court deeply regret any inconvenience that might be caused by the closures. We will work with those affected to minimize the impact." "Although the court will be closed for ordinary business, required felony and domestic violence arraignments will continue to take place as they do every day of the year, including Sundays and Holidays." Judge DeLuca suggested that filings and payment plans be adjusted accordingly to avoid inconvenience. "There is a drop box on the West side of the City Hall Building facing the Capital that can be used to make payments, which should be marked with their name and the case file number. The box is marked as being the box for the City Treasurer but we will mark it as a place to make payments for 54A court." "We have made substantial adjustment to our schedules to meet the statutory requirement to hold preliminary examinations in felony matters within fourteen days. Other matters that are on short time-lines include summary proceedings in landlord tenant and land contract foreclosures. Certainly the filing and handling of both civil and ordinance matters will be affected." Judge DeLuca said that the closures "will also require the cooperation of the prosecutor's office and the police because they will have to do many hearings in a short period of time." Asked about filing due dates, he said "the days the court is closed will be sanctioned non-business days--meaning those days would not be counted in determining filing due dates." "The court has 55 employees, as well as the judges that will be affected. We are doing everything we can to avoid any overtime hours as that would defeat the purpose of the furlough days. We don't expect that matters will be delayed." "This is the first furlough situation for this court. If we were in a free standing building, we would do everything we could to stay open during those ordinary business days. But the building will be closed, the heat will be turned down, maintenance will not be working so it would be impossible for us to hold court." "We will make similar accommodations on other closure dates, which are Jan. 15, March 12, April 1, May 28 and June 11th of 2010," Judge DeLuca said. Published: Thu, Dec 17, 2009

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