As a court planner, one of my primary responsibilities is guiding stakeholders in making strategic decisions that align with current operational needs and long-term goals—all within budgetary constraints. This requires a deep understanding of court operations, space programming, and building...

Courtroom utilization studies are becoming an essential tool in planning courthouse facilities. These studies assess how courtrooms are used, generating data that influences decisions about the number and size of courtrooms. By understanding current usage, courts can reduce the size and cost of new...

Court planning firms and architectural firms bring distinct yet sometimes overlapping expertise to courthouse projects. If your courthouse is facing challenges such as space constraints, aging infrastructure, outdated security features, operational inefficiencies, or damage from external events,...

Courthouse planning is a complex undertaking that demands careful consideration of multiple factors to ensure functionality, efficiency, and adaptability. A critical starting point in this process is workload analysis. By understanding the volume and types of cases a courthouse handles, planners...

I’ve previously written about evictions and their rise following the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2022) as federal, state, and local eviction moratoriums were lifted. While some progress has been made in reducing evictions—primarily at the state level—they continue to rise in many major...