Washington County opens new common pleas courtroom
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MARIETTA - A new Washington County Common Pleas courtroom will provide more space, improved security and greater flexibility for domestic relations cases and other court proceedings.
Courtroom C was created in space formerly occupied by the Washington County Building Department, Magistrate Laura Silwani said. The project had been discussed for several years as officials worked to secure funding and find space inside the courthouse.
Before the courtroom was built, Silwani worked in a hearing room that also served as her office and was about half the size of the new space.
Silwani primarily oversees the county's domestic relations docket, which includes divorce, child custody and other family-related cases. The former room often placed litigants close to their attorneys and the opposing parties during emotionally charged proceedings.
"They're going through arguably the worst thing in their life, and they are packed in there like sardines," Silwani said. "From a security point, it was not safe for me or even the litigants, and they just needed more space to be able to breathe."
Silwani took over the magistrate's position in February 2025 and said the new courtroom was part of the long-term plan discussed when she accepted the job. Court officials acted when the Building Department relocated and the space became available.
The larger courtroom will allow litigants additional room and greater privacy during difficult proceedings, Silwani said.
"They have the space to kind of grieve publicly and feel a little bit safer," she said.
Courtroom C is across from the courthouse law library, giving self-represented individuals easier access to paperwork and legal research materials. Three conference rooms are also available for attorneys to meet privately with their clients.
The courtroom will also help the court continue operating when one of the county's judges must give up a courtroom to a visiting judge assigned by the Supreme Court of Ohio because of a conflict.
By coordinating schedules, judges will be able to use Courtroom C for prisoner arraignments, bond hearings and most other proceedings. Jury trials are the primary exception, Silwani said.
The courtroom's technology also allows parties to participate remotely when necessary. Silwani said that option could be used because of safety concerns or when someone involved in a case has moved out of state.
The court currently uses remote participation primarily for uncontested matters because cases involving extensive documents or evidence can be more difficult to conduct virtually.
Silwani said officials sought to keep as much of the project's spending within Washington County as possible. Sixmo served as the architect, while Promanco handled construction.
"If there was an option to buy something in Washington County versus across the river, we did it to try to keep as many of our tax dollars here," Silwani said.