Chatham County Courthouse opens amid layout concerns
This new courthouse behind me has been in the works for more than two decades.It's called the Judge Eugene H. Gadsden Courthouse, and starting this morning, it will handle all state and superior court cases here in Chatham County.
This project has been 25 years in the making. Sheriff Richard Coleman told us; deputies are in place and prepared to secure the building as hearings get underway. He also said law enforcement and court officials have worked together to make sure today's opening runs smoothly. However, some local attorneys have concerns about the courthouse's design and safety features.
'Private counsel and the public defender's office. We've always had to walk from outside into the courthouse. I've never in any of my divorce cases, transported two kilos of cocaine across the street, like the DA's office might, or a gun or any of that kind of stuff,' said Anthony Burton, an attorney in Savannah.
The new building was funded through more than $80 million in SPLOST dollars. It should be noted that the old Coleman Courthouse will continue handling probate, magistrate, and recorder's court services.
Several hearings are already on the docket Monday morning… including a high-profile homicide trial. WSAV will continue to follow how the first day unfolds and the concerns raised by attorneys are addressed in the coming weeks.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Mobile house hit by gunfire
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) — A house in Mobile was hit by gunfire Thursday afternoon, has learned. UPDATE: Locals react to Dauphin Way Baptist Church being for sale According to a Mobile Police Department news release, officers responded to the 6000 block of Dauphin Island Parkway at about 4:22 p.m. in reference to shots fired. INCIDENT LOCATION: When officers arrived, they found an occupied home had been hit by gunfire; no injuries were reported, the release said. Irvington church leader arrested for sex offender violation The investigation continues, the release said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
Charges stemming from jailhouse fight thrown out at trial
EAU CLAIRE — The case against a man charged after a 2024 jailhouse fight ended with a rare victory for a motion seeking a directed verdict. Kemone Golden, 29, faced a charge of battery by prisoners, a Class H felony under Wisconsin law. His trial began Monday morning and ended in the early afternoon when the defense asked for the case to be dismissed. A motion for a directed verdict asks the judge to determine that no reasonable juror could find in favor of one of the sides due to insufficient evidence. It's a common motion, especially for the defense, since it carries no risk to the presentation of their case at trial. Success for such a motion is rare, though. Judges generally prefer to leave cases in the hands of jurors as finders of fact. A directed verdict takes the decision out of their hands, ending the case before deliberation. But, when it's clear one party in a case hasn't provided enough evidence, a directed verdict avoids wasting time for the court, jurors and the parties involved. In Golden's case the defense had already moved several times to have the case tossed. Court records show the first request to dismiss the case was made just a few minutes after jurors were sworn in. Judge Beverly Wickstrom didn't immediately rule on it, and the defense renewed the motion during a break about an hour later. Again, Wickstrom withheld a ruling. It was after the state's first witness, a correctional officer from the Eau Claire County Jail, testified that Wickstrom granted the motion for a directed verdict. The court brought jurors back in and told them the case was dismissed and that they were excused. Dismissal of the case doesn't mean Golden is free, though. He was one of four men convicted in 2024 in the shooting of Christopher Connor, who died after being hit by bullets fired from a vehicle in 2022. State records show Golden is being held in the Stanley Correctional Institution with a maximum discharge date of June 2038. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Yahoo
Clerks from all 55 WV counties gather for election conference at Canaan Valley
DAVIS, (WBOY) — While the 2026 elections may still be months away, county clerks and election officials from across the state gathered in Tucker County this week to prepare for the polls next year. Representatives from all 55 counties were in attendance at the Canaan Valley Resort in Davis for a three-day conference hosted by West Virginia Secretary of State Kris Warner and his Elections Division staff. 'We do this as a lead-up into each election, mid-term or general election. It's my first election conference as newly elected Secretary of State, so we're very pleased with the fact that, again, all 55 counties are participating,' Warner said. WVDEP approves permit for proposed Tucker County data center The conference focused on voter registration, federal guidelines, absentee voting, election day preparation, ADA compliance for polling locations, canvassing and election night reporting. Warner said that more than 200 representatives from across the state were present this week, and that events such as this help West Virginia's municipalities stay prepared for election season and allow citizens to vote with confidence. 'It's the clerks that get the job done, and when you have all 55 counties represented, you know that it's going to be another great year, and another election where people can show up and vote, and have confidence in the system, get unofficial results on election night and ten days later have those election results certified, so it's very rewarding,' Warner said. The 2026 Primary Election in West Virginia is set for Tuesday, May 12. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
