Orleans Criminal Courthouse Update
December 15, 2022 update: The Vermont Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has informed the Judiciary that the investigation into events surrounding the alleged possession of a firearm by a non-Judiciary employee at the Orleans Criminal Courthouse has been completed. The AGO has advised the Judiciary that it will not be taking any civil or criminal action in the matter. The Orleans courthouses will re-open to the public on Friday, December 16, 2022 and hearings will be held starting December 16 either in person, remotely or hybrid as specified in Orleans Unit notices of hearing.
The Judiciary takes the safety and security of court users and the public very seriously and will continue to take whatever security measures it considers appropriate based on available information. We appreciate court users’ and the public’s patience during the AGO investigation process.
December 5, 2022 update: The Judiciary has been informed that the investigation into events surrounding the alleged possession of a firearm by a non-Judiciary employee at the Orleans Criminal Courthouse in mid-November has not been completed. Based on information that indicated that the matter was serious and that a potential for violence existed, the Judiciary implemented security and precautionary measures aimed at minimizing security risks at the courthouses. Those measures included cancelling in-person hearings and scheduling as many hearings as possible on a remote basis. Until the investigation is completed or the Judiciary has sufficient guidance otherwise regarding any potential for violence, the security and precautionary measures will continue. We regret the inconvenience to litigants and to the public but remain committed to mitigating the risk of potential security threats at the Orleans Courthouses.
November 28, 2022 update: Since first being made aware of the incident, an investigation has been commenced and the Judiciary has continued to take steps to obtain and evaluate information indicating that a non-judicial employee was alleged to have possessed a firearm while at work inside the Orleans Criminal Courthouse. Pending completion of the investigation, the Judiciary has determined that continued security and precautionary measures are appropriate. In light of this, further changes are being made to the scheduling and conduct of hearings in order to mitigate the risk of any potential security threat arising at the Orleans Courthouses. These changes include that the jury draw scheduled for November 29, 2022 is canceled and all hearings in all Divisions in the Orleans Unit shall be held remotely pending further notice.
November 21, 2022 original posting: Late in the afternoon on Tuesday, November 15, 2022, the Judiciary received information indicating that a non-judicial employee was alleged to have possessed a firearm while at work inside the Orleans Criminal Courthouse the prior week. The Judiciary was advised that the individual did not make any threats of harm to other persons or entities. The Judiciary immediately took steps to take appropriate security and other precautionary measures. Enhanced security measures were implemented, and changes were made in the scheduling and conduct of hearings in order to mitigate the risk of any potential security threat arising at the courthouse. The Judiciary is not in a position to make any statements regarding employment or other matters relating to the individual.