The Peru Gazette

By John T. Ryan

Moving Peru Town Court from the Town Hall’s main floor to another location is an issue that will apparently never die, at least not as long as Town Justice James Kirby is in office. At the Town Board’s May 25^th meeting Kirby asked the Board for guidance stating that New York State is offering town court security upgrade grants of up to $30,000; however, a grant application would have to be submitted in June or early July and would have to include specific plans and exact price quotes. While the Board has discussed relocating Town Court on numerous occasions, a vote has never been taken on the issue.

Kirby mentioned three alternatives: moving the court downstairs; adding on to the back of the Town Hall; or renting courtroom space at another location. Following a brief discussion the Board agreed to continue discussions at a June 9^th workshop immediately following the 6:30 p.m. pickle ball workshop.

Town Justice Larry Cabana was also present at May 25^th meeting. He told the Board, “Defense attorneys consider this the worst courtroom in the county.” A few days ago the Peru Gazette spoke with Justice Cabana who was happy to be interviewed saying, “This is the first time anyone has asked my opinion.”

Cabana described courtroom current shortcomings such as having to use the Town Hall entrance/foyer as the inmate holding area and not having a private attorney-client conference room. In Peru, attorneys typically confer with clients in the Town Hall entrance area or in the parking lot. When a justice must conduct a private “in chambers” meeting with a defendant, the defense attorney, the district attorney and sometimes a family member as many as eight people crowd into the court’s limited office space. On other occasions off-hour arraignments are being held in chambers because the main room is being used for workshops, meetings or other public functions.

Peru Town Court has the third highest caseload in Clinton County. Since January 1^st Justices Kirby and Cabana have conducted over 100 off-hour arraignments. Over the first five months of this year they presided over 136 criminal cases (358 in 2015), 20 civil cases and processed 1,058 traffic violations. Many, if not most, of the criminal cases require multiple conferences or proceedings. In 2015 the Town Court revenue totaled $143,809 while operating expenses totaled $103,773.