11 Aug ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIVINCENZO AND ASSIGNMENT JUDGE FLORIA OPEN TWO NEW COURTROOMS FOR ESSEX VICINAGE FAMILY COURT

Posted at 20:01h in Press Release by

Published on August 11, 2016

Newark, NJ – Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. and Essex Vicinage Assignment Judge Sallyanne Floria announced that two new courtrooms for the Superior the Court of New Jersey Essex Vicinage Family Court have been completed in the Wilentz Justice Complex in Newark. The courtrooms provide modern, up-to-date accommodations for members of the public coming for hearings as well as judges and court personnel.

“People coming to Family Court can be involved in life-alerting events. Providing courtroom space that is up to date and functional creates a welcoming atmosphere that puts people at ease and allows the courts to work more efficiently,” DiVincenzo said. “We appreciate our partnership with Assignment Judge Floria and the Essex Vicinage to modernize our court facilities,” he added.

“We are fortunate in Essex to have a great partnership with the county. These additional courtrooms will enable the judiciary to better accommodate the needs of our citizens who come to Family Court. We thank County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. for all he has done to improve our facilities,” Essex Vicinage Assignment Judge Floria said.

“Our responsibility is to maintain safety and security for court staff and visitors as well as make sure people are treated with dignity and respect. These new courtrooms are testament to that mission,” Sheriff Armando Fontoura said.

The two new courtrooms are located on the 10th and 12 floors of the Wilentz Justice Complex. The two spaces were renovated to accommodate a traditional courtroom layout. The courtrooms are equipped with modern sound systems and technology that enables video conferencing to be conducted. Additional work to reconstruct hallways were completed to enhance security. Construction started in February and was completed in about six months.

Comito and Associates from Newark received a $115,000 contract to design the two courtrooms. John O’Hara Co. from East Orange was awarded a publicly-bid $999,737 contract to perform the construction work. The Essex County Department of Public Works monitored the project to answer questions and ensure delays were avoided. The project was funded through the Essex County Capital Budget.

There are now 19 Family Court Rooms in the Wilentz Building. Working in cooperation with the Essex Vicinage, some of the projects that DiVincenzo has been able to complete include the restoration of the Historic Essex County Courthouse, development of a new entrance from the Juror’s Parking Lot to the Essex County Veterans Courthouse, creation of a new Juror Assembly Area for Petit Jurors on the first floor of the Veterans Courthouse, renovation of the Assembly Area for the Grand Jury on the fourth floor of the Veterans Courthouse, and the relocation of Superior Court administration offices to the 8th, 9th and 10th floors of the Essex County Veterans Courthou