Groundbreaking held for new Provo courthouse


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PROVO — A major change is coming to the skyline in Provo with the new addition of a new district courthouse.

During the 26 years the courthouse near 200 North and Freedom Boulevard has been in operation, many high-profile cases have been resolved there. It's where Dr. Martin MacNeill was found guilty of drugging his wife and leaving her to die in a bathtub; and Meagan Grunwald was convicted of aggravated murder and 10 other charges in connection with the shooting death of Utah County Sheriff’s Sgt. Cory Wride.

Also during that time, the area has grown dramatically to the point the courthouse has become too small.

For the second time in his career, Judge Lynn Davis has helped break ground for a new courthouse in Provo. He was there when the current courthouse was finished back in 1990.

And in 30 years on the bench, he said a lot has changed on how judges conduct the people's business in the district courtroom.

"The nature of the charges, the nature of cases before us, the multiplicity of cases, etc.," Davis said.

Utah Supreme Court Chief Justice Matthew B. Durrant joined judges from the 4th District on Tuesday to mark the beginning of a new era — a new $86 million courthouse that will include 16 courtrooms and should provide the public with better access to the courts for decades to come.

The eight-story courthouse will house the Provo and Orem juvenile courts, along with Provo's 4th District Court.

Groundbreaking was held Tuesday, May 24, 2016, in Provo for the new Fourth District Courthouse, which will house the Provo and Orem juvenile courts and the Provo District Court. (Photo: Artist rendering)
Groundbreaking was held Tuesday, May 24, 2016, in Provo for the new Fourth District Courthouse, which will house the Provo and Orem juvenile courts and the Provo District Court. (Photo: Artist rendering)

“This will be a much more open and welcoming environment. It will also provide substantially upgraded security, which is important as well,” Durrant said.

With the change from paper to electronic records in recent years, both judges and attorneys said they look forward to a courthouse operating with current technology.

”The access to audio-visual equipment is really not there," Utah County Attorney Jeff Buhman said. "This new building will be up to date. We will be able to be more technologically advanced when we do our trials and our hearings."

“It will be a real citizens' house, where people can come with their most important issues and have great judges make decisions in a dispassionate, fair and just way," Durrant added.

Construction on the new courthouse is expected to take about 2 ½ years and is scheduled to be finished in the fall of 2018. The current courthouse building will be remodeled and become the local Applied Technology College.

Contributing: Viviane Vo-Duc

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