Kentucky Court of Justice
Pulaski County to break ground for $22.4 million judicial center Feb. 2

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- The public is invited to a groundbreaking ceremony for the planned Pulaski County Judicial Center on Monday, Feb. 2, at 1:30 p.m. The event will take place at the construction site at 52 Public Square in downtown Somerset.

The Kentucky General Assembly authorized the Pulaski County project in 2005 and approved its funding in 2006. The total project cost is $22.4 million. The building will be approximately 78,000 square feet and is expected to be completed in October 2010.

New judicial centers often replace older, vastly inadequate facilities, greatly increasing the efficiency of services and public flow, said Garlan VanHook, executive officer of the Department of Facilities for the Administrative Office of the Courts.

“All new judicial centers are equipped with the modern infrastructure to support data, computer, video and networking technology,” he said. “They also provide the highest level of Kentucky court security through a single-point entry with magnetometers and security personnel.”

Bennett Rosser International architectural firm of Lexington designed the Pulaski County Judicial Center. D.W. Wilburn Inc. of Lexington is the general contractor for the project and Ross, Sinclaire & Associates, which serves Kentucky and six other states, is the financial agent.

Chief Justice of Kentucky John D. Minton Jr. and Pulaski County Judge Executive Barty Bullock will be among the speakers at the ceremony. Other state and local officials expected to attend include judges, attorneys and the Pulaski County Circuit Court clerk. For more information, contact Judge Executive Bullock at 606-678-4853.

Process for Constructing Judicial Facilities

Once funding for a judicial center is authorized, the AOC Department of Facilities works with local communities to assemble the Project Development Board in their county. This board ensures that county and court officials have input on all aspects of the project, including decisions on the site, architect and contractor. The PDB consists of the county judge executive, a fiscal court representative, the chief circuit judge, the circuit court clerk, the AOC director or designee and a Kentucky Bar Association designee. The AOC’s executive officer of the Department of Facilities and the AOC legal counsel serve in an advisory capacity.

 The AOC provides oversight and administration of court facilities in accordance with House Bill 734, which was passed by the 2000 General Assembly.

“As a result of this legislation, the AOC created a process that would fairly and objectively determine facility needs,” VanHook said. “Our Facilities Management System has earned the Kentucky Court of Justice a national reputation for being able to identify facilities with the greatest needs for new construction, renovation, expansion and adaptation.”

As the administrative and fiscal agent for the Kentucky Court of Justice, the AOC oversees construction of court facilities statewide. The AOC also supports the activities of approximately 4,000 court system employees, including the elected offices of justices, judges and circuit court clerks.