Local News in Brief : 246 More Courtrooms

Los Angeles County supervisors adopted a master plan Tuesday to build 246 more courtrooms over the next six years in an effort to meet the county’s judicial needs through the next decade.

The $508-million proposal, which would be paid for out of existing courthouse construction funds, was approved on a 3-1 vote as a major step toward expanding courtroom space for both Municipal and Superior courts.

The proposals, which will have to return to the board for individual approval, include the leasing or construction of 94 courtrooms in the next two years. Another 152 courtrooms are targeted as part of a long-term construction project.

“This is a working plan to meet courthouse expansion requirements into the 1990s,” Superior Court Executive Officer Frank Zolin said. “The court feels that this is a very sound, working plan.”