The state judicial branch plans to close the courthouse in Bristol.
The state judicial branch announced Monday that they intend to close the Bristol Geographical Area No. 17 Courthouse, effective at the end of the business day on Friday, Aug. 30.
Effective Tuesday, Sept. 3, all cases from Bristol will be heard at the New Britain Judicial District courthouse, at 20 Franklin Square.
The decision to close the courthouse is expected to save $146,776 per year, the amount of the annual lease from the city of Bristol.
“The City of Bristol has valued its long-term relationship with GA 17, but we also recognize the need to seek regional solutions to economic challenges. We are pleased that there will be only a relocation of services to New Britain and no job loss. This is a part of what I see as an evolution of downtown and what type of services we want here,” Mayor Ellen Zoppo-Sassu said in a statement. “While some may see this as a negative, I prefer to view it as yet another opportunity for the city to review options for the space that might help us cut our costs or improve efficiencies.”
Eighteen judicial branch employees and one judge work in the courthouse and a news release from the state judicial branch says no judicial branch employees will lose their jobs.
“For generations, prosecutors assigned to the Bristol courthouse have provided outstanding service to the communities they serve. While grateful for that service, closing the Bristol GA courthouse and transferring the cases to New Britain will help the Division of Criminal Justice to consolidate and to more effectively use its scarce resources,” Chief State’s Attorney Kevin Kane said in a statement. “We should also be able to avoid some duplication of administrative staff. I am fully supportive of this consolidation and confident that all of the stakeholders in our criminal justice system will continue to receive outstanding service from these dedicated men and women.”
