Site of future federal courthouse cleared off

When it comes to talking about courthouses, U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Sr. uses the most reverent of language.

In his words, a courthouse is more than a building. It's an "imposing monument," one that "represents justice." A "hallowed place on hallowed ground" where people for ages have gone seeking fairness and impartiality.

But to exhibit all those exalted ideals, a physical structure is needed to house them -- and one that accommodates the needs of a growing district. A new $49.3 million federal courthouse to be built at the corner of Frederick and Independence streets will provide all of those things.

That was the strong endorsement Limbaugh gave at a ceremony Monday morning, attended by about 50 dignitaries gathered under a tent on the future site of the Cape Girardeau U.S. Courthouse. In a largely ceremonial move, the remains of an abandoned storage building were demolished on the courthouse site in front of the audience.

The ceremony was attended by U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson and representatives for U.S. Sens. Kit Bond and Jean Carnahan, as well as state Sen. Peter Kinder, Cape Girardeau Mayor Jay Knudtson, city officials, Presiding County Commissioner Gerald Jones and others.

"There has been a huge amount of litigation in the last 50 years in Southeast Missouri," Limbaugh said. "That's going to increase. This courthouse is desperately needed."

Limbaugh, the keynote speaker, pointed out that, when he practiced law in Cape Girardeau in 1951, there was one court employee. Now there are nearly 40.

In 1951, there were no criminal cases here and only 34 civil cases. As of June 2002, there are 207 civil cases and 64 criminal cases pending, he said. That doesn't even take into account the many bankruptcy cases before the court, which can involve as many as 65 creditors. Some of those cases take a few days and others take a few weeks, he said.

"So space is imperative," he said. "The case load is heavy now, and it's going to continue."

Building specifications

The new courthouse will have three courtrooms, with space to construct a fourth, and four judges' offices under a Congress-backed plan. The courthouse also will have space for federal prosecutors, public defenders and the U.S. Marshals Service.

Initial plans call for 22 parking spaces inside the building and a 122-space parking lot. The courthouse would sit back from the Independence and Frederick intersection both for security and aesthetic purposes, officials from the General Services Administration have said.

Some criticism has arisen that the courthouse may cost too much to build: $285 a square foot.

Emerson downplayed such comments.

"In spite of criticism that has been put upon the courthouse, we're going to be watching every nickel to make sure it comes in under budget," she said.

The ceremony was not a traditional groundbreaking -- construction doesn't start until sometime next year. But John Casey, the director of project development for the GSA, said that the ceremony was held to show that the project is moving forward.

The proposal to build a 150,000-square-foot courthouse just west of the Cape Girardeau City Hall has been approved by Congress and awaits final authorization as part of President Bush's budget in October.

If the new courthouse is included in that budget, then a contract would be awarded in December, Casey said, and the courthouse could be completed in early 2005. Three firms are working on plans for the courthouse, and those plans will be chosen after the budget is finalized, Casey said.

smoyers@semissourian.com

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