‘Out of Space, Out of Time’: Judges Urge Action on New Montgomery County Courthouse

District judges in Montgomery County are calling on county commissioners to advance plans for a new courthouse, emphasizing that the existing facility is overcrowded and unsafe and urgently needs replacement.

“We are out of space, time, and options,” Judge Kristin Bays informed the commissioners during a meeting on February 25. She highlighted that delays will only lead to higher costs.

Judge Claudia Laird emphasized the critical need, asserting that the county's justice system cannot operate efficiently without sufficient courtroom space. “Without a venue to conduct court proceedings and bring cases to trial, law enforcement and prosecution are at a standstill,” she stated.

Montgomery County's 20 judges must function within a courthouse with just 17 operational courtrooms. The overcrowding is exacerbated by structural issues, such as faulty wiring and plumbing, crumbling concrete, rodent infestations, and asbestos concerns. Laird emphasized the security risks, pointing out that the confined space offers few barriers between inmates, jury members, attorneys, and judges.

The existing courthouse, constructed in 1938, has not expanded significantly since 1997. Judges noted that Montgomery County courts managed 31,800 cases in 2024, considerably surpassing the 24,000 cases dealt with by Fort Bend County courts, which had the same number of judges.

Although funding continues to be challenging, judges have suggested alternative revenue sources, such as transforming the current courthouse into a historical site and leveraging court-collected fees, which would yield approximately $200,000 each year.

In 2022, Montgomery County engaged the architectural firm PGAL to assess the feasibility of building a new courthouse. Nonetheless, no conclusive measures have been implemented. Judges cautioned that additional delays would increase expenses and ongoing pressure on the country’s judicial system.

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