But we're told no. This past week Oak Park officials approved allocating more space for its district court by knocking out a wall into the adjacent fire department hall. We're too cramped, small and antiquated. There is no handicapped accessibility. We double as a courthouse and council chamber.
Acoustics are terrible.
At times I cannot see witness or jurors. Our magistrate holds formal hearings in the foyer. A city council-appointed court site selection committee is looking into prospective sites for a courtroom. Eight years ago, the Madison Heights District court moved from city hall to a remodeled building that once housed the police department. That's unacceptable when you have 15,000 cases a year.