Water damage further delays proceedings at justice building

The clean up from major water damage to the new Gartin Justice Building will continue to delay oral arguments before the state Supreme Court and Court of Appeals for the immediate future.

State Supreme Court Chief Justice Jim Smith said Wednesday he is looking for an alternate location for the courts to hear arguments until repairs are made to the new court building.

A malfunctioning sprinkler system flooded all floors of the building in Jackson last week.

The Gartin Building houses the Mississippi Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court Clerk, the State Library, the Administrative Office of Courts, the Board of Bar Admissions, the Board of Certified Court Reporters and the Commission on Continuing Legal Education.

The building remains open, but offices are operating on a limited basis. Only essential employees were at the building Wednesday.

But Smith said he expects all employees to return to work next week.

However, Smith said it will be several weeks before the building is restored to to its original condition.

Two scheduled cases to be argued before the state Supreme Court this week were delayed. There are two cases scheduled for oral arguments next week that could also be delayed. The Court of Appeals also had several cases scheduled this week and next week for oral arguments.

Smith said he is hoping to use the old state Supreme Court chambers in the state Capitol for the courts to hear oral arguments.

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