After Columbus announced it would no longer build a new Municipal Court building, the courthouse's judges and staff are raising concerns about whether renovation can adequately fix problems caused by decades of deferred maintenance.
In an 11-page statement released on Aug. 12, the Franklin County Municipal Court staff identified security and health issues throughout the building. These include a lack of compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
More than 517,000 people went through the Municipal Court in 2025, making it the city's most-visited building, the court said in a statement. About 4,000 people are estimated to visit the court every day.
The Municipal Court building, constructed in 1979, houses 26 courtrooms and is the working
space for nearly 300 court employees, as well as 180 employees of the Clerk of Courts and more than 100 employees at the Columbus City Attorney's office.
Columbus officials announced July 29 that construction of a new courthouse would no longer happen.Plans for renovation had been discussed since at least 2018. The city instead would renovate the current building, located at 375 S. High St., and do renovations to the James A. Karnes building across the street.
The Dispatch has reached out to Mayor Andrew Ginther's office for comment.
Voters approved bond issues in 2019 and 2025 for funding for a new Municipal Court.
The citycited the increased cost of construction, an estimated $335 million, as a deciding factor in not moving forward with a new build, despite work beginning in March and April to clear debris from Dorrian Commons in preparation for work beginning. The costs of renovation are estimated to be about $260 million.
Because of the ongoing plans for construction, maintenance on the current court building, which was constructed in 1979, have often been deferred.
The staff said there is not currently secure parking for judges, which requires supplemental security for them as they arrive and leave. One judge has been surveilled and followed from their vehicle into the courthouse by a stalker, court staff said, and another has been stalked and threatened, leading to criminal charges.
The current renovation plans would not add secure parking, court staff says.
There are also concerns about the ability for people with disabilities to access the building. None of the 26 courtrooms are ADA compliant, the court said. Restrooms are also not ADA complaint and require those needing a compliant restroom to leave the building or have assistance.
There are no dedicated handicapped parking spaces at the court building. The courthouse was built before the ADA was enacted in 1990 and has never been retrofitted to become complaint, the court said.
Among other concerns raised:
- Elevators break down regularly, trapping employees and the public. The court's security director was trapped for more than two hours in early August.
- The fire alarm system is past its expected lifespan and replacement parts are no longer manufactured, resulting in parts being purchased in second-hand marketplaces.
- There is no secure way to house inmates in custody or transport them between courtrooms.
- Security equipment is strained by the volume of people coming to the court and replacement had been deferred in anticipation of a new building getting new equipment.
- Electrical wiring has had documented issues, including visibly smoking.
- Plumbing issues have resulted in leaks, including in the court basement on Aug. 11.
- Public areas have damaged seating and visible signs of damage to ceilings and walls that have not been tested to determine whether it poses a health hazard.
The court said the city sought no input from the judges before making its decision and has not addressed concerns about how the expected years-long renovation plans would address some of the most pressing issues.
Municipal Court handles traffic cases, small claims court cases, misdemeanor criminal cases and civil cases involving less than $15,000.
Reporter Bethany Bruner can be reached at bbruner@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus wants to renovate, not replace, its courthouse. Court staff says that's not enough
