Willimantic Civil Court On The Budgetary Chopping Block

EDITOR'S NOTE: This story ran earlier this week on South Windsor Patch, but is being re-published today in case you missed it.

WILLIMANTIC, CT - The Judicial District Courthouse in Willimantic is a budget casualty.

Chief Court Administrator Patrick L. Carroll III on Tuesday announced the first round of courthouse closings that will take place as a result of a $77 million reduction in the Judicial Branch’s budget for fiscal year 17.

In addition to Willimantic, adjustments include closingJuvenile Matters at Danbury, Juvenile Matters at Torrington and Juvenile Matters at Stamford.

Carroll said current plans dictate that cases from Juvenile Matters at Danbury will be transferred to Juvenile Matters at Bridgeport and Waterbury. Cases from Juvenile Matters at Torrington will be transferred to Juvenile Matters at Waterbury and New Britain, he said.

Juvenile Matters at Stamford will be transferred to Juvenile Matters at Bridgeport and cases heard at the Judicial District Courthouse in Willimantic will be heard at the Putnam Judicial District Courthouse or the Geographical Area Courthouse No. 11 in Danielson, he said.

"It is unfortunate that these courthouse closings must occur," Carroll said. "They will be disruptive and will impact many people. I want to stress that the closure of courthouses is not driven by savings generated by closing the facilities. Rather, these closings are required because of the loss of staff, through attrition, a strict hiring freeze and layoffs that have already been announced."

He added, "However, we are doing the best that we can to position the Judicial Branch so that we can continue to meet the needs of the people we serve, despite significantly fewer resources."

Willimantic police spokesman Corporal Stanley Parizo Jr, said the only civil matters are heard in the Willimantic Courthouse so the day-to-day criminal arraignments out of his department will be be affected. Criminal cases have gone to Danielson for some time, he said.

See the text of Judge Carroll’s statement here.

Click here for general Information about the Judicial Branch’s FY 16-17 Budget