A portion of the Vista courthouse complex was evacuated Monday due to a ceiling collapse in one of the courtrooms.
No one was hurt in the collapse at about 6 a.m. in Department 12, which led to an evacuation of the north building of the North County Regional Center. The south building and the courthouse annex remained open on Monday.
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“I appreciate everyone’s patience as we wait for more information on when we can resume operations in that section of the courthouse," presiding Judge Lorna Alksne said in a news release issued early on Monday evening. "We are working to relocate court appearances and I apologize for any inconvenience."
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Court spokeswoman Julie Myres said an engineer will assess the damage. It's not yet known when the building would reopen. Eighteen courtrooms, as well as the criminal business office, juvenile court business office, Family Court Services, Family Law Facilitator, and the children’s waiting room were affected, according to court officials, who included the following instructions in the statement issued Monday evening:
- JURORS: Should continue to report for duty by phone as scheduled
- FAMILY COURT SERVICES: Mediation services will continue as scheduled
- FAMILY LAW FACILITATOR: Report to the triage table in the South building lobby
- JUVENILE: Report to the Civil business office in the South building
- CRIMINAL BUSINESS OFFICE: Filings will be accepted in the lobby of the South building
- CHILDREN’S WAITING ROOM: The Children’s Waiting Room is located in the impacted section of the building and will be closed until further notice.
