Kentucky Court of Justice
Owen County to break ground for $11.47 million judicial center March 11

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- The public is invited to a groundbreaking ceremony for the planned Owen County Judicial Center on Thursday, March 11, at 3 p.m. EST. The event will take place at the existing courthouse at 100 N. Thomas St. in Owenton. The construction site is located at 401 S. Main St. in Owenton.

The Kentucky General Assembly authorized the judicial center project for Owen County in 2006 and approved funding in 2008. The total project cost is $11.47 million. The building will be approximately 33,000 square feet.

New judicial centers replace older, inadequate facilities, greatly increasing the efficiency of services and public flow. All new judicial centers are equipped with the modern infrastructure to support data, computer, video and networking technology. The facilities also provide the highest level of Kentucky court security through a single-point entry with magnetometers and security personnel.

Chief Justice of Kentucky John D. Minton Jr. said he appreciates the legislators and county officials who have supported this project for Owen County.

“Kentucky citizens generate more than 1 million court cases each year,” Chief Justice Minton said. “Our citizens deserve safe, efficient facilities in which to conduct their business before the courts.”

CMW Inc. of Lexington designed the Owen County Judicial Center. Codell Construction Co. of Winchester is the construction manager for the project and Ross, Sinclaire & Associates, which serves Kentucky and six other states, is the financial agent.

Owen County Judge-Executive Carolyn H. Keith will be among the speakers at the ceremony. Other state and local officials expected to attend include judges, attorneys and the Owen County circuit court clerk. For more information, contact Judge-Executive Keith at 502-484-3405.      

Process for Constructing Judicial Facilities
The Kentucky Administrative Office of the Courts 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. The AOC’s 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.

Once funding for a judicial center is authorized, the AOC Division of Capital Construction works with local communities to assemble a Project Development Board. 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 chief district judge, the circuit court clerk, a citizen at large, the AOC director or designee and a Kentucky Bar Association designee.

As the administrative and fiscal agent for the Kentucky Court of Justice, the AOC oversees the construction and maintenance of court facilities statewide and supports the activities of 3,800 court system employees, including the elected justices, judges and circuit court clerks.