Federal courthouse construction / Matthew C. Carrasco, editor.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Carrasco, Matthew C.

Series:

Congressional policies, practices and procedures series.

Congressional policies, practices and procedures

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Courthouses--United States--Planning.

Courthouses.

Courthouses--United States--Design and construction.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (152 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

New York : Nova Science Publishers, Inc., c2011.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

The General Services Administration (GSA) is the primary federal real property agency, with responsibility for the design, construction and maintenance of federal buildings and courthouses. The determination for new courthouse construction is based on a five-year assessment of anticipated space requirements compiled by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, which is updated and approved each year by the Judicial Conference of the United States. This book examines federal courthouse construction planning, oversight and the issue of courtroom sharing needed to address future costs

Contents:

Intro

FEDERAL COURTHOUSE CONSTRUCTION

CONTENTS

PREFACE

Chapter 1 FEDERAL COURTHOUSE CONSTRUCTION: BETTER PLANNING, OVERSIGHT, AND COURTROOM SHARING NEEDED TO ADDRESS FUTURE COSTS

WHY GAO DID THIS STUDY

WHAT GAO RECOMMENDS

WHAT GAO FOUND

ABBREVIATIONS

BACKGROUND

EXTRA SPACE IN COURTHOUSES COST AN ESTIMATED 835 MILLION IN CONSTANT 2010 DOLLARS TO CONSTRUCT AND 51 MILLION ANNUALLY TO RENT, OPERATE, AND MAINTAIN

MOST COURTHOUSES EXCEED CONGRESSIONALLY AUTHORIZED SIZE DUE TO A LACK OF OVERSIGHT BY GSA

Most Federal Courthouses Constructed since 2000 Exceed Authorized Size, Some by Substantial Amounts

Most of the Courthouses That Exceeded Authorized Size by 10 Percent or More Also Exceeded Budget Estimates

Increase in Overall Size Consisted of Increases in Building Common and Tenant Spaces

GSA Lacked Sufficient Oversight and Controls to Ensure That Courthouses Were Planned and Built According to Authorized Size

Lack of GSA Oversight Contributed to More Building Common Space than Planned

A Lack of GSA Oversight Contributed to Some Courthouses Being Built with Larger Tenant Spaces

Recently, GSA Has Taken Some Steps to Improve Oversight of Courthouse Size

ESTIMATED SPACE NEEDS EXCEEDED ACTUAL SPACE NEEDS, RESULTING IN COURTHOUSES THAT WERE LARGER THAN NECESSARY

Because the Judiciary Overestimated the Number of Judges, Courthouses Have Much Extra Space after 10 Years

Judiciary Planning Overstated the Need for Space through Inaccurate Caseload Projections and Allocations of Space for Visiting Judges

The Judiciary's Method of Estimating Judges Does Not Account for Uncertainty in When Judges Will Take Senior Status and in How Many New Judgeships Will Be Authorized.

LOW LEVELS OF USE SHOW THAT JUDGES COULD SHARE COURTROOMS, REDUCING THE NEED FOR FUTURE COURTROOMS BY MORE THAN ONE-THIRD

Courtrooms Assigned to One Judge Are Used a Quarter of the Time or Less for Case Proceedings

Increased Courtroom Sharing Is Feasible and Could Reduce the Need for Courtrooms by More than One-Third

Some Judges Said They Could Overcome the Challenges to Courtroom Sharing

The Judiciary Has Taken Some Steps to Increase Sharing in Future Courthouse Projects

CONCLUSIONS

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EXECUTIVE ACTION

AGENCY COMMENTS AND OUR EVALUATION

GSA Comments

AOUSC Comments

APPENDIX I. OBJECTIVES, SCOPE, AND METHODOLOGY

APPENDIX II. COMMENTS FROM THE U.S. GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

GAO Comments

APPENDIX III. COMMENTS FROM THE FEDERAL JUDICIARY

End Notes

Chapter 2 STATEMENT OF JUDGE MICHAEL A. PONSOR, CHAIRMAN, COMMITTEE ON SPACE AND FACILITIES, BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON COURTS AND COMPETITION POLICY, HEARING ON "COURTROOM USE: ACCESS TO JUSTICE, EFFECTIVE JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION, AND COURTROOM SECURITY"

INTRODUCTION

The Courthouse Construction Program

The Judiciary's Courtroom Sharing Policies

The Impact of GAO's Courtroom Simulation Model on Access to Justice

CONCLUSION

Chapter 3 STATEMENT OF ROBERT A. PECK, COMMISSIONER, PUBLIC BUILDINGS SERVICE, U.S. GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION, BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON COURTS AND COMPETITION POLICY, HEARING ON "FEDERAL COURTHOUSE CONSTRUCTION"

Chapter 4 STATEMENT OF JUDGE ROBERT JAMES CONRAD, CHIEF DISTRICT JUDGE, WESTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA, BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON COURTS AND COMPETITION POLICY, HEARING ON "COURTROOM USE: ACCESS TO JUSTICE, EFFECTIVE JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION, AND COURTROOM SECURITY"

FEDERAL COURTS ARE PLACES OF DIGNITY AND DELIBERATION.

THE COURTROOM IS AN ESSENTIAL TOOL IN THE JUDICIAL PROCESS

COURTHOUSES MUST ALSO BE SAFE AND SECURE

THE CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA COURTHOUSE

Courtroom 3 (Our "L" shaped Courtroom)

Courtrooms One and Two

Security Concerns

Condition Concerns

Chapter 5 FEDERAL COURTHOUSE CONSTRUCTION

SUMMARY

BACKGROUND2

CONGRESSIONAL FUNDING FOR COURTHOUSE CONSTRUCTION

FY2009 Funding

RECENT CONSIDERATIONS

CHAPTER SOURCES

INDEX

Blank Page.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record and CIP data provided by publisher.

ISBN:

1-62100-316-7

OCLC:

750174765