Athens-Clarke courthouse employees shift workplaces following closing due to bedbugs

The  recent closing of the Athens-Clarke County Courthouse due to bedbugs resulted in shifting duties for some employees and working from home for others as many functions of the court were kept active, according to two elected officials who work there.

“I can’t say we skipped a beat. We still have the jail and a lot of our folks worked out of there and that helped greatly at the jail,” Clarke County Sheriff John Q. Williams said Monday.

The courthouse was closed July 22, but is expected to reopen Wednesday, July 31. Exterminators have been working to eliminate the bedbugs, which can hitch rides on people back to their homes or other places.

Clarke County Clerk of Court Elisa Zarate said some needed functions such as the issuance of temporary protection orders remained in place with judges on call to hear those situations.

Bedbugs: Athens-Clarke County Courthouse remains closed due to bedbugs

“We’re managing as best we can, but we’ve been through this before with bed bugs and COVID,” she said, explaining many court processes are being handled virtually.

The Superior Court Judges have this week off for their annual judge’s seminars, but their cases from last week are being rescheduled.

Zarate said she was also checking with State Court to see if jury trials for that court can still take place on Wednesday.

As for the sheriff’s office, Williams said some deputies, such as those who handle courthouse security, were able to take on other roles and work out of the jail.

“We’re behind on some things but we still do the civil service of papers and pick up folks on warrants,” he said.

Both Williams and Zarate said they believe the closing was extended into this week out an abundance of caution.

“They want to make sure before they let everyone back in,” Williams said.

Chief Superior Court Judge Lisa Lott issued another order this week closing the courthouse for two more days.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Bedbug problems at Athens courthouse means shifting court cases