Trial and General Sessions courts in Madison County will remain closed through the end of the week due to serious tornado and storm damage to the Criminal Justice Complex in Jackson, Circuit Court Judge Don Allen said Wednesday.
“There is no power to the building, there is extensive water damage and the continuing rain has added to the problems,” he said.
Power probably will not be restored to the complex until at least Tuesday, said Circuit Court Judge Roger Page. He said power company officials have said that is when they may have power restored to the downtown area where the courts are located. Until courts are operational again, Page said jurors can call the county’s Jury Information Line at 731-423-6036 for information about their service.
The Tennessee Supreme Court Building, which houses the Western Section Court of Appeals and Court of Criminal Appeals and where the Supreme Court hears cases, also was heavily damaged by this week’s storms and tornados. Windows were blown out, offices were damaged, the building’s front doors were destroyed and trees on the property were uprooted. The building also has no power. Cleanup has begun and the building’s structural stability will be assessed by a state fire marshal, said Connie Clark, administrative director of the courts.
“We cannot say at this time when the building will reopen for business,” she said. “In the meantime, Deputy Clerk Susan Turner and her staff are doing everything they can to help those who have business in the appellate courts in Jackson. A panel of the Court of Criminal Appeals heard cases Tuesday in a local hotel.”
The appellate courts also have buildings in Nashville and Knoxville. Until further notice, all filings for the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals and Court of Criminal Appeals in the Western Section must be sent to the Appellate Court Clerk's Office in Nashville, Clark said. The address for filings is Supreme Court Building, 401 Seventh Ave. North, Nashville, TN 37219-1407.