(Photos of the construction in the courtroom has been permitted by the Indiana Supreme Court)

WARSAW — Court proceedings scheduled for juveniles and adult cases in Kosciusko Juvenile Court and Kosciusko Superior Court 1 have taken place in a spare courtroom since Oct. 19 when remodeling construction began.

These two court rooms, along with the Circuit Court room, have not been upgraded since the Justice Building was built in 1982 and are not ADA compliant.

Kosciusko County Administrator Ron Robinson said all new recording and sound systems were needed in the courts. Since the new electronics would require some construction changes, it was decided to replace the carpet and make the entire courtroom handicapped accessible — for jurors, witnesses, defendants and spectators.

Workers remove old carpet and furniture.

Robinson said since rooms to hold court for Superior Courts II and III, along with the spare courtroom, were already handicapped accessible, the decision was made to start with the juvenile courtroom and Superior Court 1.

DJ Construction, Warsaw, was hired to handle the remodeling. According to Robinson this will include removing one seat in the jury box and cut the riser in that one area to ground level and behind the witness box. A seat will also be removed in the spectator area to accommodate a wheelchair.

Additionally two 75-inch flat screen televisions will be hung on the walls for the judge and jury to view and utilize when videos are shown during cases. This will also allow teleconference with a defendant at a state facility, eliminating transportation expenses.

Construction on these to courtrooms are expected to be completed by Nov. 13. Work on the Circuit Court room is expected to begin after Jan. 1. New sound and recording equipment will be installed in Superior Court II, III and the spare courtroom at that time as well.

Robinson stated the entire project will cost $180,000.