The county's growth, wealth and industry have left its legal system stretched and crowded from a predictable increase in the number of cases, including crimes and civil lawsuits. It all requires tremendous judicial intervention. Among the changes under consideration is a nearly paperless court that makes more use of the Internet. That means everything from birth certificates to personal protection orders to motions filed by attorneys would be filed and recorded via computer. The county is awaiting approval from the state court administrator's office in Lansing to move forward.
Space also is a problem.
The county is expected to reconsider plans, shelved temporarily because of other projects, to expand the current courthouse at 1200 Telegraph Road in Pontiac or build a new one on the site. The building is too small and outdated, according to Howard and other judges. Some courtrooms aren't even handicapped accessible, including Judge Jessica Cooper's. She oversaw the Jack Kevorkian murder case last summer. County officials are considering taking over the building that now houses the Oakland County School District to ease crowding.