Here’s when the new Stanislaus Superior Courthouse could open in downtown Modesto

The new Stanislaus Superior Courthouse in downtown Modesto could be completed and ready for use four years from now, and officials don’t anticipate any delays.

The project is in the architectural design-working drawings phase, according to the Judicial Council of California, the policy maker for the state courts managing the project. That design phase is expected to be completed in December.

The next phase for the new courthouse is construction, which is slated to begin early next year. Online information from the Judicial Council about the Modesto project indicates staffers could move into the new courthouse by late spring 2023.

Court Chief Executive Officer Hugh Swift said he was informed this week the project is moving forward as planned.

“Right now, we don’t have any reason that won’t occur,” Swift told The Bee Thursday. “We’re still on schedule and not aware of anything that might take us off track.”

The new Modesto courthouse — a 300,000 square-foot building with 27 courtrooms — is expected to cost about $279 million, according to the Judicial Council. The building will be located in a lot along H Street, between Ninth and 10th streets.

A year ago, construction was estimated to cost about $262 million. Blaine Corren, a spokesman for the Judicial Council, said Friday that the $17 million increase in the budget is the result of an adjustment for inflation. Funding for the courthouse was initially authorized in July 2010.

“California capital outlay projects, especially complicated projects such as courthouses, can take several years from the initial funding budget request to the commencement of construction,” Corren said.

The new building will replace scattered court facilities, which include the Modesto main courthouse on 11th and I streets, that are overcrowded, lack security features up to current standards, and hinder efficiency.

The three other facilities included in the move are Traffic Court on Floyd Avenue in Modesto, Civil Court in the Merrill Lynch building on Tenth Street in downtown Modesto, and the court building on Starr Avenue in Turlock that handles small claims and unlawful detainer cases.

Officials say the Modesto courthouse project will consolidate court services from the four facilities into one building, increasing efficiency. It will improve security by creating enhanced entrance screening and separate hallways for the public, staff and defendants in custody, along with properly sized holding areas for defendants.

“It would definitely be a big undertaking to move all staff from four facilities into one building,” Swift said.

How court officials will move their operations is still unclear. Swift said it’s still too early in the project to discuss the move, but he said the court will design a plan to move staff into the new building without too many disruptions to the daily operations.

“We haven’t gotten to that point, in terms of a relocation plan,” Swift said. “But we want to minimize any inconvenience to the public and to our justice partners.”

Only 22 of the 27 courtrooms will be finished and ready for use when staff move into the new building. Swift said the remaining five courtrooms will be empty, “basically a shell,” until the court receives state funding to add more judges to occupy those rooms.

Currently, Stanislaus Superior Court has 24 judicial officers in 24 courtrooms. Swift said two courtrooms in Juvenile Court — located on Blue Gum Avenue in Modesto — are not included in the plan to move into the new courthouse. He said local court officials are working closely with the Judicial Council and state lawmakers to acquire funding to move the Juvenile Court into the new building.

Courthouse projects

There are 17 courthouse projects throughout the state listed as “in progress,” including courthouses in Modesto and Sonora, according to the Judicial Council.

Construction of the new Tuolumne Superior Courthouse began in January, according to the Judicial Council. The 61,000-square-foot courthouse in Sonora, which is expected to cost about $64 million, will house five courtrooms. Construction there is expected to be completed in March 2021.

The state will issue what are called lease revenue bonds to pay for construction of the 10 projects, including the courthouses in Modesto and Sonora. The state’s general fund would pay back the debt.