OTTAWA COUNTY, Mich. — Ottawa County officials opened the doors to its all-new, state-of-the-art Family Justice Center. The multi-million dollar project started a few years ago and supports the legislatively mandated concept of what is called "one judge, one family.”
The new 56,000-square-foot facility will bring the 20th District Judicial Circuit Court family division together to provide services to the people of Ottawa County. Judges, attorneys and court staff who handle domestic, juvenile and child welfare cases will work out of the new facility. Previously, the work was divided between different courthouses.
“We're going to have a legal self-help center opened in this building where we’ll be able to provide forms and other documents for people who don't have attorneys,” Chief Judge Jon Van Allsburg said. "We will have workstations including printers available in the building, and we'll also have some rooms with legal kiosks where they can participate in Zoom hearings.”
Among the features of the new courthouse, there is one jury room, two non-jury courtrooms, three hearing rooms, and eight holding cells with more than 50 offices. The new move makes it easier for families to have one courthouse they can go to instead of having to go to different locations.
“They will be working with someone that they've met before and someone who has a history and knows their case, and doesn't have to get up to speed, so there's less bouncing around between different judges and referees,” Van Allsburg said.
The new courthouse will move frequently used court services closer to the population centers within Ottawa County. Three judges, three attorney-referees, juvenile court services and the Ottawa County Clerk Circuit Court Records will operate in the new building.
“We've put some thought and effort into art in the public spaces here in the building to help people feel comfortable,” Van Allsburg said. "We've designed the waiting areas in sections so that people don't have to all sit in a long row in the hallway, they can divide up into family groups or different groups and feel more comfortable that way."
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