Press Releases

WASHINGTON — On Tuesday, Congressman Brandon Williams (NY-22) received a letter from Director Robert J. Conrad, Jr., of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, in response to previous correspondence regarding the Federal Courthouse in Utica, located in the Alexander Pirnie Federal Building.

In March, it was brought to the attention of Rep. Williams by constituents and the Oneida County Bar Association that there may be plans to close the courthouse and relocate the District and Bankruptcy Courts within the Pirnie Federal Building.

On March 19^th, Representative Williams wrote to Director Conrad seeking a definitive answer to whether any such plans existed. Director Conrad’s April 2^nd response states that “ensuring access to justice is of paramount importance to the Judiciary” before specifying that there is no plan to close the courthouse:

“As you reference in your letter, the Alexander Pirnie Federal Building currently houses both the district and bankruptcy court for the Northern District of New York, including two resident judges (one district and one bankruptcy). Accordingly, both courts are committed to maintaining a presence in Utica, and you will be pleased to know that there is no plan to close the courthouse,” the letter reads, in part.

“I appreciate Director Conrad’s response to this inquiry. The courthouse provides a vital service to hundreds of thousands in the Utica-Rome area, and it is a great relief to know that both courts will remain in Utica—the courthouse isn’t going anywhere, anytime soon!” said Congressman Williams.

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