Tag Archives: Williams Justice Center

From the Bench: From the ashes…

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rob-krombeenby Justice of the Peace Robert Krombeen

This past month on June 28th, while at the judicial conference in Phoenix, I sat down with Judge Anna Mary Glaab from the Yarnell Justice Court and spoke with her about the fond memories I had of Yarnell while working for Yavapai County back in the 80’s. Neither of us knew at that time that lightning had just struck a mountain and started a fire that would change the community and so many lives forever. Judge Glaab reported this week that two of the four members of her staff lost their homes and possessions. The fire totally caught the community and Judge Glaab’s court by surprise, and now she is working diligently to continue and bring back services to the court. Courts in Baghdad, Prescott, and Mayer are scrambling to provide services for the most pressing and time-sensitive matters at that court. Please continue to keep the community and those families in your thoughts and prayers, as now the challenges of the losses really come to light as families attempt to rebuild their lives.

Because of possibility for that and other types of interruptions at our court, the Williams Municipal and Justice Courts have been working together with Coconino County Court Administration to develop our Continuous Operations (COOP) plan to enable our courts to continue providing services during any unanticipated emergency or contingency. The plan would cover a wide range of possible disruptions including forest fire, winter blizzard, gas leak or other evacuation, court facility structural failure, or other similar events which would cause a major interruption to the operations of our courts. COOP plans are being developed by proactive courts across the state and are being implemented in all of the Coconino County Court facilities. We have two off-site court locations identified and approved for our use in the event of an emergency, and a cache of all court supplies required for continued operations will be stored and maintained at a location outside of our facility.

Court Manager Jennifer Carter has selected Williams High School student Jaiden Pona to be our second high school intern during the upcoming school year. Jaiden joins Devin McNelly in the second year of our internship program at the courts. We applaud Jennifer’s investment of energy and effort in our community’s youth by providing a learning environment and an opportunity for our students to experience the criminal justice system and the operation of our courts.

Continuing court during emergency situations

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tj-20130412-01WILLIAMS—The weight of snow has just collapsed the roof. The snow has caused a train to derail on Seventh street sparking a horrendous forest fire. The fire is melting the snow causing flooding. The flooding freezes over Railroad Avenue causing a semi to skid out of control into the building. Okay, not all of those things are likely to happen at one time, but something might happen to cause the evacuation of the Williams Justice Center. The staff of the Williams Justice Center will have to have a way to provide important court services after that.

The Williams Municipal and Justice Courts are working together with Coconino County Court Administration to develop our Continuous Operations (COOP) plan to enable our courts to continue providing services during any unanticipated emergency or contingency.

“The court has to be able to issue orders—court orders—and those things 24/7. We have to be able to provide orders of protection and other court orders during business hours and that take precedence in court,” Justice of the Peace Robert Krombeen explained.

“If somebody’s arrested in the city they have to be seen by the JP or a magistrate within twenty-four hours. They have to be. For a felony—a homicide, for example—they would be released in twenty-four hours. That’s required by law and the Arizona Constitution.”

The Flagstaff Court system has their own system as part of the County emergency plan. “They have the specifics of their plan in place where they have other sites in the greater Flagstaff area where they could set up their court, as well, so that they could maintain court within their precinct.”

Krombeen explained that our plan has two alternative sites within our precinct so that we can maintain court in this area. “If something really weird happened where it was going to be a longer term, we could potentially go to Flagstaff. But it’s our goal and our plan to set up to have those services provided right here.”

One of the sites being considered is the Coconino Community College building which is being turned over to the high school. It has facilities to allow video court similar to the facilities in the Williams Justice Center. The other location is the Clark Memorial Airport which has sufficient parking and Internet facilities that could allow the same function.

So if an emergency should occur in any of the areas serviced by the Williams Justice Center, do not try to take advantage of the situation. You will not pass go, you may loose $200 and you may go to jail.

Williams Law Day coming your way.

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krombeem-thumbnailby Justice of the Peace Robert Krombeen

President Dwight Eisenhower established May 1st as Law Day in 1958 as “a day of national dedication to the principle of government under law.” Across the country, criminal justice agencies and courts will be renewing their understanding of, and appreciation for, the fundamental principle of the rule of law. This year’s theme for Law Day is, “No Courts, No justice, No Freedom,” and is indicative of the crucial role our judicial system plays in a free society. The Williams Justice and Municipal Courts will celebrate Law Day on May 13th by opening the Court to students from the Williams High School and Middle School to partake in courtroom activities which will impress upon them the importance of law and order in our communities. Real attorneys, bailiffs, and other criminal justice professionals and service providers will be present to provide instruction and real experience with inter-active courtroom proceedings. We want to encourage the public to celebrate with us on this day to remember of all the past sacrifices and struggles involved in creating the fair and just legal system we all appreciate. The event will be open to the public so please plan to stop by the court on May 13th between 8:00am and 4:00pm. We want to thank the Williams Unified School District and all of the criminal justice and service providing professionals who are participating to make this event a success.

The Williams Justice Court welcomes Coconino County Volunteer Don Saylor to our court. Mr. Saylor has extensive work history and experience in counseling veterans and those suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), substance abuse, and other emotional health matters. Mr. Saylor will be coordinating our community restitution program at the court, which has been providing services to our community from those persons ordered by the Court to perform community restitution. This is usually accomplished by those persons contributing to community beautification.

Glassburn park before and after beautification project.

Glassburn park before and after beautification project.

The Court works closely with Williams Clean and Beautiful and City Staff to identify and prioritize those projects. We appreciate the positive feedback we’ve received from business owners and public regarding this program.

If you have any suggestions for future projects please call the Court at (928) 635-2691.