[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 32 (Monday, March 21, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 21, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
  LEGISLATION INTRODUCED TO CONSTRUCT A NEW FEDERAL COURTHOUSE IN THE 
                     NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS

                                 ______


                       HON. GEORGE E. SANGMEISTER

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 21, 1994

  Mr. SANGMEISTER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased today to introduce a bill 
legislating the creation of a new Federal courthouse and division in 
the northern district of Illinois. This courthouse, located in Joliet, 
would serve a newly created southern division within the northern 
district of Illinois. It would be comprised of Grundy, Kendall, La 
Salle, and Will Counties. The counties of Cook, Du Page, Kane, and Lake 
would remain within the district's eastern division.
  The idea for establishing a suburban Federal district courthouse 
originally arose at the State bar level at a board of governors meeting 
over a year ago as a way to deal with the problem of overcrowding. A 
number of local bar associations, including those in Grundy, Kendall, 
La Salle, and Will Counties, became interested in the project, and have 
since urged me to help them turn their idea into a reality.
  The demographics of south and west suburban Chicago have changed 
dramatically over the last decade. The population has increased much 
faster than in other areas and, as a result, more legal activity has 
followed. From 1980 to 1990, the combined population of Grundy, 
Kendall, La Salle and Will Counties has increased from 504,277 to 
535,976, a total of 6 percent. The U.S. Census Bureau predicts that by 
1997, the population of these four counties will increase another 11 
percent. This is a total of 17 percent in less than two decades. In 
comparison, the combined population of Cook, Du Page, Kane, and Lake 
Counties only increased 1 percent in the 10 years from 1980 to 1990, 
and is expected to rise a mere 2 percent by 1997.
  Furthermore, Will County is the fourth largest county in Illinois, 
with Cook being the largest. With the vast majority of northern 
Illinois' population located in this area, it stands to reason that 
legal activity would be high. Presently, the western division of the 
northern district has two courthouses to handle the heavy caseload 
generated by the 10 counties within its division The entire central 
district of Illinois has six courthouses and the southern district has 
four.
  However, with only one Federal courthouse for the eastern division, 
located in Chicago, serving an eight-county area with a population of 
more than 7.2 million people, caseload problems are exacerbated. A new 
courthouse for this area would, without question, allow for improved 
efficiency, convenient access for local residents, and a reduced 
caseload for the Chicago district court system.
  An ongoing expansion project in the Dirksen Federal Building will 
eventually provide additional courtrooms. However, according to a 
spokesperson with the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, even 
the completion of the expansion project will not sufficiently address 
the problems associated with overcrowding. It's time for our court 
system to accommodate this shift in population.

  Situated in the heavily populated, fast-growing Will County, the city 
of Joliet is a natural choice. Another advantage of the Joliet location 
is its easy accessibility to all of the counties in the newly proposed 
southern district. For example, those attorneys presently practicing in 
the southwest corner of the eastern division would find it much more 
convenient to practice in a forum within 1 hour's drive, as opposed to 
being forced to travel nearly 2 hours, one way, to file a case or 
attend a court date in downtown Chicago.
  This initiative, in my opinion, is a crucial step toward alleviating 
the weighty caseload congesting the Chicago Federal court system. It is 
my belief that the introduction of this bill will alert people to the 
necessity of this urgent community need and ultimately will lead to the 
construction of a new Federal courthouse for the people in the 
southwestern suburbs of Chicago.
  Most county bar associations in the eastern division agree that 
something needs to be done to resolve this problem. The question 
remains as to where would be the best location to house additional 
court facilities. It is my fervent hope that we make the right choice--
the responsible choice.

                          ____________________