Court Progress Is on Schedule

The federal court branch in Santa Ana should open on schedule by early next year, with two judges in place, a federal judge said Thursday.

Although one federal judge who originally was interested in the move from the main court in Los Angeles now has reconsidered, U.S. District Judge Matthew Byrne Jr. said he was confident the two posts would be filled.

“By the time the building is furnished and occupied, we will be ready to go and that should be before the first of January,” said Byrne, chairman of the judicial committee charged with finding the two federal judges.

Byrne and six other federal judges serving on the court’s Santa Ana Operations Committee met Thursday in Los Angeles to discuss staffing and court calendar issues.

The judicial staffing question arose when one of two judges who initially expressed interest in moving to Santa Ana changed his mind. The other has yet to make a commitment.

“At this point, I’ve pretty much indicated that I don’t want to be considered,” U.S. District Judge Terry J. Hatter Jr. said.

Hatter, who lives in Diamond Bar, said he and his wife would like to have more flexibility in deciding where they want to live after their youngest child finishes high school.

“In terms of the commute, I’m not much better off one way or the other,” Hatter said.

Interest Expressed

U.S. District Judge Alicemarie H. Stotler, who lives in Anaheim Hills, initially expressed interest in moving to the new courthouse but has not committed to it.

“As far as I know, she is waiting, I think appropriately, to see what the court is going to do,” said Byrne, referring to the operational plan being developed for the new courthouse.

He said the committee is still working out how the caseload will be divided up and other issues.

Stotler could not be reached for comment after the meeting and several other judges declined to comment on what was discussed.

The new courthouse, located in the Santa Ana Civic Center, will have courtrooms and chambers for two judges and a magistrate. It also will have a U.S. marshal’s detention facility and office space for five assistant U.S. attorneys, two federal public defenders and their support staff.