The Hall County Courts unveiled Thursday its newly dedicated Jury Assembly space at the Hall County Courthouse in downtown Gainesville.
The new room increased the capacity from 120 people to 225, adding 2,600 sq. ft. compared to the original space.
Chief Judge of the Northeastern Judicial Circuit Kathlene Gosselin told AccessWDUN the larger space was much needed.
“The space started on the first floor, that's where it's been all these years, and it's a much smaller space,” she said. “This almost doubles the amount of space we have to bring jurors in, we have a check-in space now, where the clerk's office can check them in carefully.”
Gosselin emphasized that prior to the new space opening, jurors would be checked in on the first level of the courthouse in the hallway.
The 4,397 sq. ft. room also features new audio and video capabilities that will allow jurors to watch a video orientation and receive other relevant information.
Judge Gosselin noted the new room was designed with the jury’s comfort in mind.
“We know that they're called involuntarily, they don't ask to be called for jury duty,” she said. “We want to make it as painless as possible. And so, we hope this will allow them to be spread out to feel more comfortable and do their duty.”
The Jury assembly room was completed in August with a $1.4 million budget funded by the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax VII and Capital Projects.
