Friday, March 23, 2012

Jackson federal court among 60 on chopping block

While news isn't our regular feature here, here's something that's topical for this site:

Jackson federal court among 60 on chopping block

I generally avoid commentary here, but I will note that closing this Federal Courthouse, as the interviewed Magistrate indicates, is a poor idea.  The nearest Federal courthouse would be in Mammoth, in Yellowstone National Park, hardly an easy location to commute to.

Additionally, I frankly think it's a shame that many fine Federal courthouse built in Wyoming over the years are no longer used, and in at least one case, have been sold.  Courthouses existed or exist in Lander, Green River and Sheridan which are not in use (and the Sheridan one was sold).  These small, but substantial, courthouses were built in another era, when transportation was more primitive, but still, the Federal Court's presence would basically cease to extend north and west of Casper if this was done, which is to omit most of the state.  I know, of course, that the court would still draw juries statewide, at least theoretically, but the greater the distance becomes, the more theoretical that is, and the less the connection with the court becomes.

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