After failing to pass the ballot measure during the November General Election for a bond for a new criminal court building, Dallas County Attorney Jeannine Ritchie details the next steps.

Ritchie tells Raccoon Valley Radio that she believes that people were confused about the purpose of the criminal court building, and that information should have been brought forward sooner. She pinpoints that county offices in the courthouse will transition into the new administration building across the street. With that move, Ritchie says that it will open up more space to have a total of four jury courtrooms for criminal and civil cases.

“Which will be very, very helpful, and hopefully that will be (a) 12 to 18 month project and we’ll get the first floor remodeled and see if that eases some of the planning and administration of how those cases get handled and when they get handled.”

Ritchie mentions that the $56.9 million that is already invested into the building is apart of the budget in the agreement with Farnsworth Group. She is confident that the funds will still be put to good use, then have ongoing discussions with a contract manager to be prepared for the groundbreaking process to begin.