Ascension officials break ground on new courthouse

A host of Ascension Parish officials joined Parish President Kenny Matassa Wednesday to officially break ground on the new courthouse being built on East Worthey Street in Gonzales, next to the Governmental Complex.

A committee comprised of President Matassa, Judge Jason Verdigets, Judge Marilyn Lambert, Clerk of Court Bridget Hanna, and Sheriff Jeff Wiley organized back in 2017 to discuss the need for and possibility of building a new courthouse, because of security and space issues in the current facility. The group proposed a bond issue, to be repaid entirely by court fees, to finance the courthouse. This was adopted unanimously by the Ascension Parish Council at its meeting on August 3, 2017.

Grace Hebert Curtis was chosen as the architect and The Lemoine Company as general contractor. After the retirements of Judge Lambert and Sheriff Wiley, Judge Erin Lanoux and Sheriff Bobby Webre became members of the committee.

When completed, by the end of 2020, the new courthouse will measure 90,000 square feet, with state-of-the-art security features, and room to accommodate future growth. The total cost is $28 Million.

Contributed by Ascension Parish Government