Staunton: Docket for J&DR court moved to West End location next month

The West End in Staunton will be home to a new Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court next month.

City spokesperson Josh Knight told AFP that the first day of operations at the new facility will be Monday, Dec. 15. The court will shut down the week of Dec. 8-12 to make the move.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned for the public on Thursday, Dec. 18, from 4-6 p.m. at 2020 W. Beverley St. City leadership and court officials will offer comments for the occasion, and a tour will be given to areas that are not restricted due to security.

The project finished on schedule, and the contractor delivered the building to the city before a Nov. 1 deadline.

The city has since worked to install furniture, technology and cosmetic touch-ups as it prepared for the court to open.

The new 34,000-square-foot J&DR building includes two courtrooms, secure program areas for the city sheriff’s office, clerk’s office and court service unit, as well as satellite office space for the commonwealth’s attorney, public defender and mediator/victim advocate services.

The court currently shares space with Augusta County at 6 E. Johnson St. in Staunton. Due to code issues with the current building, the county made the decision to move its courts to Verona forcing Staunton’s hand to do something on its own.

Staunton broke ground on the project on April 16, 2024.

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ICYMI

• Staunton: New court building remains on schedule, on budget for 2025 completion
• Construction on new Staunton J&DR District Court facility on schedule
• Staunton accepting bids for construction of new Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court facility
• Staunton breaks ground on new Juvenile & DR building

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The city is still exploring options for the remainder of the site.

Staunton Mayor Michele Edwards has been energized watching the building take shape over the last 18 months.

“This civic and community anchor will play an important role in supporting continued growth and development in the West End,” she said.

City Manager Leslie Beauregard also commended city staff who worked on the project.

“Despite a tight timeline, city staff and our partners have risen to the challenge of delivering one of the city’s largest and most important civic facilities in decades.”