Construction projects always cause some disruptions even in the best of cases, and sometimes they involve actual cases. When the contractors began renovating the offices of the Clerk of the Supreme Court in the State House this summer the staff had to find a new home. Lawyers continued to file appeals and the cases and paperwork had to be securely stored and safeguarded. A natural place for the Clerk was with the Division of State Court Administration at 30 South Meridian Street. Almost the entire staff of the Clerk moved in July from the State House to their temporary home with State Court Administration. After months of displacement, on November 24, all of the employees finally were given the green light to move back to their newly-refurbished offices in the State House.
Greta Scodro, Deputy Administrator of the Indiana Supreme Court, and Heather Smith, Deputy Clerk, spent many hours ensuring a smooth transition for both the move over to STAD and for the move back to the State House. They appreciate the assistance they received from David Remondini, State Court Administration Chief Deputy Executive Director, and Brenda Rodeheffer, State Court Administration Property Manager, especially in welcoming all of them to their temporary headquarters and in meeting their diverse office needs. They report that the hardest part of the move was the continual transportation of documents from one building to the other. They had to carry literally tons of paper back and forth during this temporary move.
With the return to their home office, the Clerk’s staff is looking forward to ending the long, dark walks from their parking lot to the offices on South Meridian Street, and to once again having full desk space. The staff reports however that they will miss the modern break room, good coffee, pure water, news reports, and the convenient appliances at State Court Administration.
Yet, it is clear that the experience proved this move into the offices of State Court Administration was the best option for safeguarding the records of the Court and conducting the Clerk’s business in the most efficient manner possible.
Kevin Smith, Clerk of the Appellate Courts, is planning an open house in the renovated office in early 2009.