Franklin Co. courthouse remains closed after major flooding

Court system adapting to remote hearings, temporary offices during cleanup

FRANKFORT, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) — The Franklin County courts are still dealing with the impacts left from the recent flooding. City leaders predict a long road of recovery for the courthouse.

It’s been more than a week since the Kentucky River poured into the streets of Frankfort. Now, as crews work to dry basements and replace electronics, the county’s court system is having to adjust as the courthouse remains closed.

“This building is definitely closed longer than a week, I know the court systems themselves are closed for a week. I think starting Friday they are going to start doing some criminal trials,” said Franklin County Judge/Executive Michael Mueller.

Now heading into its second week being closed, the Franklin County Courthouse has chains out front with a posting reminding folks that its doors are closed for another week. The closure continues as large machinery and cleanup crews are seen along Saint Clair Street.

Another hurdle the courthouse is facing is relocating its hard files.

“All the clerks files were in the basement, so during the flood what we had to because once we heard it was changing we had to move everything to the third floor. So now as you can imagine, file cabinet after file cabinet is just on the third floor,” said Mueller.

While the building isn’t expected to be back in use any time soon, Mueller says the court system will work out of different locations or entirely over Zoom.

“The criminal court will be held at the jail, they’re doing a make shift jail room there. Court of the Appeals is going to be I think at the old court room out on C. Michael Davenport, and family court will be held by Zoom,” said Mueller.

Meanwhile, the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office is now temporarily relocated to the current Court of Appeals location on Chamberlin Avenue, where they’ll also be taking phone calls and documents.