BRINGING LIFE INTO THE OLD COURTHOUSE

The historic Polk County Courthouse will once again host trials, at least for a few months later this year.

The building, which was built nearly a century ago, has not been used for actual court business since 1995, when the current ten story courthouse across Broadway underwent renovations. It currently houses the Polk County Historical Museum.

As Polk County has continued it's remarkable growth over the past couple of decades, court programmes have expanded and additional judicial positions have been created. The result is that space in the current courthouse has become strained, and new options are being reviewed.

The current plan is to renovate the present courthouse beginning this summer, with completion scheduled for November or early next year. The county's branch courthouses in Lakeland and Winter Haven, which currently handle arraignments, small claims, and traffic cases, will also be renovated in order for them to begin handle criminal cases and trials within the next couple of years.

At the historic courthouse, a few changes will likely need to be made. One of the two upstairs courtrooms will need a bench and jury box, with air conditioning likely being added to one of the jury rooms and various security considerations.