Miscellaneous

Ike Goes to Court

By Anne Skove, Esq.

Hurricane (or tropical depression, or very wacky windstorm, or giant rainstorm, depending on where you live) Ike pummeled courthouses around the country. Here are a few sightings:

• In Galveston, the courthouse temporarily housed a foot of water. The city expects to be without power for a month. See Ike Wears Itself Out Beating Up on Texas, CNN (September 13, 2008).


• Also in Texas, Robertson County kept its courthouse open thanks to a generator. See Robertson County Residents May Not Get Back Electricity Lost to Hurricane Ike for Weeks, Regina Dennis, Waco Tribune (September 17, 2008).


• Ike just bought a couple indicted public officials in Texas more time. Their court date, which was supposed to be this week, has been postponed. See Court Date on Hold for Now, Leslie Wilber, Victoria Advocate (September 17, 2008).


• In Cameron Parish, Louisiana, a military cleanup/rescue team braved cottonmouths, downed trees, and debris to reach the courthouse. The team found the courthouse flag buried in sludge behind the building. See the comprehensive (particularly with regard to how the cleanup process is organized) Louisiana Guard Clears Devastation in Cameron Parish, Capt. Nicholas J. Sabula, Air Force Link (September 17, 2008).


• In Clay County, Arkansas, tropical depression Ike was off his meds, fostering renewed discussion about replacing a leaky courthouse roof. See Courthouse May Get New Roof, Ryan Rogers, Clay County Democrat (September 18, 2008).


• In Carroll County, Indiana, an appraisal fair to benefit the Carroll County Courthouse Rotunda, was rained out. See Hurricane Ike Blows Ill Wind for Appraisal Fair, Debbie Lowe, Carroll County Comet (September 17, 2008).


• Planning a wedding? Don't do it during a hurricane! One couple did. All went surprisingly well. They will have to wait until next week when the courthouse opens to obtain their marriage license. See A Perfect Storm/Wedding, Betty Smith, Tahlequah Daily Press (September 17, 2008).

To take your mind off the cleanup, here's some video of a security officer trapping a bat in a courthouse.

What's your Ike story? Send it our way!

Full post as published by court-o-rama.org on September 18, 2008 (boomark / email).