Facilities and Legal Reform Projects Presentation for the Core Course on Legal and Judicial Reform for World Bank Staff January 11-14, 2005 . P. Gerald Thacker Courts Consultant 2005

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 P. Gerald Thacker Courts Consultant 2005

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 P. Gerald Thacker Courts Consultant 2005

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 P. Gerald Thacker Courts Consultant 2005

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 P. Gerald Thacker Courts Consultant 2005

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 P. Gerald Thacker Courts Consultant 2005

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 P. Gerald Thacker Courts Consultant 2005

Integrated Courthouse Automation Current and Future Needs Design Implications/Costs and Alternatives Courthouse Courtroom P. Gerald Thacker Courts Consultant 2005

Automation in the Courthouse Business Processes Electronic Filing Case Administration Recordkeeping Public Access Security Telecommunications Building Operating/Fire & Life Safety P. Gerald Thacker Courts Consultant 2005

Automation in the Courtroom Presentation of Testimony Presentation of Evidence Taking the Record Access to Ancillary Information In-Court Case Administration Public Access Security P. Gerald Thacker Courts Consultant 2005

The Smart Courthouse Equipment Communications Infrastructure Cabling Equipment connections Outside Access Control Switching Infrastructure Conduit Power Lighting Sound Reinforcement Accommodation Lines of Sight Flexibility P. Gerald Thacker Courts Consultant 2005

Facilities in Legal Reform Projects Demonstration projects Master Plans for System-wide upgrades Allocation of resources Alternatives P. Gerald Thacker Courts Consultant 2005

Facilities in Legal Reform Projects Inevitably controls the project’s critical path Long lead time Relative expense P. Gerald Thacker Courts Consultant 2005

Facilities in Legal Reform Projects Construction is the last choice Not the First P. Gerald Thacker Courts Consultant 2005

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 P. Gerald Thacker Courts Consultant 2005

P. Gerald Thacker Courts Consultant 2005

Timeframes Multiple projects can’t always proceed concurrently Limits of courts Limits of design and construction community Availability of construction materials Weather Topography P. Gerald Thacker Courts Consultant 2005

Timeframes Successful techniques Limit major new construction Design Build Pattern designs Multiple construction awards P. Gerald Thacker Courts Consultant 2005

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 P. Gerald Thacker Courts Consultant 2005

Example: Linking Facilities Investments to Reform Goals P. Gerald Thacker Courts Consultant 2005

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 P. Gerald Thacker Courts Consultant 2005

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 P. Gerald Thacker Courts Consultant 2005

Design Guide Purpose 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 P. Gerald Thacker Courts Consultant 2005

Design Guide Elements 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 P. Gerald Thacker Courts Consultant 2005

Design Guide Spaces Described 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 P. Gerald Thacker Courts Consultant 2005

Long Range Facility Plans for Each Facility Document Current conditions Identify needed repairs Determine future plans/needs Create inventory of “projects” Maintenance Repairs Alterations New facilities Estimate costs for each project P. Gerald Thacker Courts Consultant 2005

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 P. Gerald Thacker Courts Consultant 2005

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 P. Gerald Thacker Courts Consultant 2005

Priorities and Relative Importance Immediate Need Long-term Maximum Score Health & Safety 35 25 Building Structure 15 Security 10 Operating Efficiencies Impact on Caseload 5 P. Gerald Thacker Courts Consultant 2005

Facilities in Legal Reform Projects Architecturally attractive Prominent siting Appropriate indigenous materials Durable construction materials Interior functionality and flexibility Local participation in design P. Gerald Thacker Courts Consultant 2005

San Luis Indigenous Court P. Gerald Thacker Courts Consultant 2005

San Jose JP Court P. Gerald Thacker Courts Consultant 2005

Office Interior Libertidad P. Gerald Thacker Courts Consultant 2005

Natural Ventilation San Andrus P. Gerald Thacker Courts Consultant 2005

P. Gerald Thacker Courts Consultant 2005

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 P. Gerald Thacker Courts Consultant 2005

Thank you. Questions? P. Gerald Thacker Courts Consultant 2005