Facilities and Legal Reform Projects

1. Facilities and Legal Reform Projects Presentation for the Core Course on Legal and Judicial Reform for World Bank Staff January 11-14, 2005 .

2. Gerald Thacker • Administrative Office, US Courts • Assistant Director for Facilities, Security, and Administrative Services • US General Services Administration • Commissioner, Public Buildings Service • Head, Public Buildings Service, Atlanta Region

3. Gerald Thacker (cont.) • Consultant on Judicial support systems, primarily on court facilities program • Architectural firms • US Federal Courts Administrative Office • US State Courts • International Courts • World Bank • Venezuela, Guatemala, Philippines • USAID • Montenegro

4. The US Federal Courts Model Not a good model for International courts • An adversarial system • Extensive use of juries • US not a unified system • Resource rich • Mature legal and internal governing system • Mature support system • Centrality of courthouses in US towns and cities

5. Facilities in Legal Reform Projects • A necessary tool • Appropriate Facilities are Essential to the Administration of Justice • Impact of Facilities on Efficient, Effective Judicial Operations • Independent Judiciary • Judicial Involvement is Essential to Obtaining Appropriate Facilities

6. Appropriate Facilities Contribute to Judicial Reform Objectives • Protection of human rights • Foundation of Economic Development • Independence of the judiciary • Timely, consistent, legally-correct resolution of legal disputes • Reduction of case backlogs • Transparent, open, responsive and accountable functioning of the courts • Capacity of the judiciary to formulate and implement changes in court organization, practices and performance over the longer term

7. Facilities in Legal Reform Projects • Courtroom • Adequate space for jurors • Adequate space for public observers • Separation of litigants for privacy • Courthouse • Adequate space for consolidated clerks office • Adequate space for records • Adequate space for evidence storage • Separated circulation patterns • Appropriate environment for automation

8. Integrated Courthouse Automation • Current and Future Needs • Design Implications/Costs and Alternatives • Courthouse • Courtroom

9. Automation in the Courthouse • Business Processes • Electronic Filing • Case Administration • Recordkeeping • Public Access • Security • Telecommunications • Building Operating/Fire & Life Safety

10. Automation in the Courtroom • Presentation of Testimony • Presentation of Evidence • Taking the Record • Access to Ancillary Information • In-Court Case Administration • Public Access • Security

11. Equipment Communications Cabling Equipment connections Outside Access Control Switching Infrastructure Conduit Power Lighting Sound Reinforcement Accommodation Lines of Sight Flexibility The Smart Courthouse

12. Facilities in Legal Reform Projects • Demonstration projects • Master Plans for System-wide upgrades • Allocation of resources • Alternatives

13. Facilities in Legal Reform Projects Inevitably controls the project’s critical path • Long lead time • Relative expense

14. Facilities in Legal Reform Projects • Construction is the last choice • Not the First

15. Timeframes • Up to 2000 M2 : 9 to 14 months • 2 to 3 months to develop scope of work and contract for design • 3 months to design • 2 months to contract for construction • 6 months to construct • 10,000 M2 and up: 3 to 5 years • 3 to 6 months to develop scope of work and contract for design • 6 months to design • 3 months to contract for construction • 24 to 36 months to construct

17. Timeframes • Multiple projects can’t always proceed concurrently • Limits of courts • Limits of design and construction community • Availability of construction materials • Weather • Topography

18. Timeframes • Successful techniques • Limit major new construction • Design Build • Pattern designs • Multiple construction awards

19. Facilities in Legal Reform Projects • Just a tool • IT • Training • Human Resources • Case Management • Court organization/administration • Budgeting and financial management • Facilities • Supports other project goals—not a project goal itself • Facilities component should be tied directly to other project goals

20. Example: Linking Facilities Investments to Reform Goals

21. Facilities in Legal Reform Projects Pre-Project Program Assessment • General condition of facilities to support reforms • Ability of court/government to implement facilities component • Current resource allocation • Support for on-going maintenance and operations

22. Comprehensive Facilities Program • Functional Assessment/Profile • Design Guide • Document Current Conditions • Long Range Facility Plans • Multi-year Capital Plan (prioritization) • Yearly Revisions to Long Range Facility Plans and Capital Plan • On-going maintenance and oversight

23. Design GuidePurpose and Use • Describes the unique characteristics of courthouses in the Judicial system • For Judges, court staff, architects, engineers • Directly applicable for new construction • Useful for renovations

24. Types of spaces Activities/functions Typical furniture/sizes Appropriate office sizes Appropriate adjacencies Any requirement different from other government buildings Lighting/Electrical Security Wall/floor finishes/telecommunications Location Landscaping Handicapped access Façade design/appearance Built-in furniture Signage Heating/air conditioning Design GuideElements

25. Courthouse exterior Interior spaces Main Entrance/Public Lobby Courtroom President Judge’s office President Judge’s secretary’s office Judge’s office Intake offices Civil Criminal Executing Interior spaces (cont.) Court Archive Typists’ office Accountant office Special spaces Housekeeper's office Coffee Bar Conference Room Server/computer wiring room Telephone switching room Holding cell Evidence/seized property room Design GuideSpaces Described

26. Document Current conditions Identify needed repairs Determine future plans/needs Create inventory of “projects” Maintenance Repairs Alterations New facilities Estimate costs for each project Long Range Facility Plans for Each Facility

27. Develop a Multi-Year (3-5) Capital Plan • Prioritize projects • Assign to budget years • Priorities • Costs • Available funding • Reorder/revise plan based on • Government action on previous budget year’s plan • New Information about facility needs

28. Suggested Criteria for Prioritizing • Health and safety of employees • Overall building structural integrity • Security of employees and judicial process • Operating efficiencies and economies • Caseload impacted

29. Priorities and Relative Importance

30. Facilities in Legal Reform Projects • Architecturally attractive • Prominent siting • Appropriate indigenous materials • Durable construction materials • Interior functionality and flexibility • Local participation in design

31. San Luis Indigenous Court

32. San Jose JP Court

33. Office Interior Libertidad

34. Natural Ventilation San Andrus

36. Some Useful Websites • Americans with Disabilities Act www.ada.gov • Serviceability/functionality • International Centre for Facilities www.icf-cebe.com • Standards, reference documents, etc. • Whole Building Design Guide www.wbdg.org

37. Thank you. Questions?