Orange County NC Website
2 <br />They may have more traffic cases but there are lots of possibilities. The <br />Highway Patrol has changed their schedule which has put a burden on the <br />courts. Judge Love stated that she will talk with the Highway Patrol to see <br />if they can again schedule traffic court twice a month instead of once. <br />Judge Love stated that they may have to go back to two dockets - one <br />in the morning and one in the afternoon. They don't have any control over <br />that system. <br />Nancy Vecchia stated that what may be more efficient is to go to a 9:00 <br />and 11:00 o'clock docket. Judge Love would have the authority to dictate this <br />and she indicated she would have no problem with that time. It could not start <br />until January because they need to work with law enforcement in making the <br />change. The court days are set by the time and date on the ticket and the <br />magistrate also schedules people. <br />Judge Love indicated they have changed the docket to even out the load <br />and noted they are only talking about District Court. <br />Moses Carey stated that the problem which needs to be solved <br />immediately is for the next six months before the renovation is complete. <br />After the renovation there will be time to do some long range planning. <br />In answer to a question from Commissioner Halkiotis, Judge Love stated <br />that there are two Highway Patrol Officers that patrol Orange County highways. <br />She will talk with them about going back to two days. She feels that they <br />will cooperate. <br />In response to a suggestion from Commissioner Willhoit about using <br />other facilities as a courtroom, Nancy Vecchia stated that they really need <br />a courtroom setting because there is more respect. Also, there is the problem <br />of moving equipment and people. <br />In answer to a question from Commissioner Halkiotis about night court, <br />Judge Love stated that the problem is in setting up another shift with <br />personnel. <br />John Link stated that the immediate problem is that only 82 people are <br />allowed in the courtroom at one time. They have had to wait for another court <br />and move them to Superior Courtroom. They have been moving people over to the <br />Old Courthouse. The Historic Commission has set the number of people at 100 <br />in the Old Courthouse. Geoffrey Gledhill clarified that the deed specifies <br />that no more than 100 people can be in the courtroom at any one time. <br />In response to a suggestion from Commissioner Gordon on using a P.A. <br />system in another area of the building, Judge Love explained that the names <br />of everyone who is suppose to be there is called and these people are <br />separated into three groups -- guilty, not guilty and held open. They then <br />take the people who have pleaded guilty first because these usually go faster. <br />Lindy Pendergrass noted that he has seen several overcrowded courtrooms <br />solve this problem by putting a sign outside which indicates that those who <br />