Judge moves into 'new' courthouse
By BARRY HALVORSON news@leader-news.com

New Tenants District Judge Randy Clapp and his staff have begun to move into the newly restored Wharton County Courthouse. The facility was returned to its original condition after extensive work over the last few years. The Texas Historical Commission, Wharton County and various donors made the restoration project possible, and the building was rededicated late this summer. L-N File Photo

The process of changing the Wharton County Courthouse from a downtown attraction to a functioning governmental office took place this week as 329th District Court Judge Randy Clapp and District Attorney Josh McCown moved their offices back to the historic location on Monday and Tuesday.

"A representative of the contractor (Stoddard Construction, San Antonio) and the architect (Gerald Moorehead of Bailey Architects, Houston) did a walk through on Monday along with (County Maintenance Supervisor) Paul Shannon and checked off the remaining punch list items," Judge John Murrile said. "The move will be going on through the week although most of it scheduled to be completed Tuesday. By the end of the day, the telephones should be turned off in their temporary offices and turned on in the Courthouse building."

Those moving across the street to the courthouse include Clapp and his staff of two clerks and a court reporter along with McCown, his assistants and their support staff. The district clerk's office and visiting judge's chambers, along with the second district courtroom will remain in the county's district court building.

"Those offices moving will pretty much take up the office space remaining in the courthouse," Murrile said.

The actual move-in process started last week with the delivery of new office furniture for the district attorney's office. Most of the materials being moved this week included files and the county's law library.

Murrile said the move will have a domino effect on other county offices. He said the juvenile probation department will be relocated into the space previously occupied by the district attorney. The judge said several other offices are currently being considered for relocation into the offices now used by juvenile probation.