> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.richmonder.org/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Richmond courthouse closes due to water emergency - URL: https://www.richmonder.org/richmond-courthouse-closes-due-to-water-emergency/ - Published: 2026-10-19T15:34:57.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-19T21:19:52.000Z - Description: Officials closed Richmond’s John Marshall Courts Building Monday morning after broken water pipes caused flooding inside the building. - Author: Graham Moomaw - Tags: City Government, #lead Officials closed Richmond’s John Marshall Courts Building Monday morning after broken water pipes caused flooding inside the building and visible leaking outside. A pair of sheriff’s deputies were positioned outside the building as of around 11 a.m., instructing people showing up to do business at the courthouse that they couldn’t go in. Internal pipes burst and created “a lot of water” on the building’s second and third floors, according to Circuit Court Clerk Ed Jewett. “Damage has been contained to areas not open to the public,” Jewett said in an email. A city press release said all hearings and trials would be rescheduled, and instructed people with questions to call a phone number that only led to a recording message saying the building was closed. Officials have indicated the building will reopen Tuesday. "Please contact us tomorrow and we'll be glad to assist you," the phone recording said on Monday. The courthouse is maintained by the city government, and the judges who use it on a daily basis had already put City Hall on notice that the building was falling into a state of disrepair. Late Monday afternoon, city officials said the flooding occurred when the building's baseboard heaters were turned on for the first time as temperatures drop. That caused a hot water valve to break, according to the city. The flooding involved clear water, not wastewater. City Hall's facilities team was at the building Monday working on cleanup and repairs. "Vacuums have been used to collect a large portion of the water, and dehumidifiers and fans are being used to dry out the rest," said city spokesperson Michael Hinkle. "Furniture/wall hangings/etc. have been moved out of areas that were particularly impacted." The flooding appeared significant enough to cause damage, according to photos and videos obtained by The Richmonder from a source connected to the courthouse. One photo showed standing water in a room filled with records. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/99/06/99067822-fdfd-42b1-ab19-555c33eefb89/content/images/2026/10/1924867913548234148.jpg) A video appears to show part of the ceiling collapsing in the office of General District Court Clerk Cecelia V. Garner. 0:00 /0:22 1× In an order closing the building for the day, Chief Circuit Court Judge Richard B. Campbell called the flooding "extreme." In May, the judges took [legal action](https://www.richmonder.org/richmond-judges-take-legal-action-against-city-government-over-courthouse-conditions/) seeking to compel City Hall to move faster with plans to either majorly renovate the building or construct an entirely new courthouse. The city was ordered to hire an outside firm to explore those options, with an initial report due next month. 0:00 /0:12 1× ### **City leaders discuss options at legislative summit** On the same day as the courthouse emergency, city and state officials were set to meet a few blocks away to discuss Richmond's priorities for the next General Assembly session. Council Vice President Katherine Jordan (2nd District) raised the courthouse issue during that discussion. "As everyone knows, the City Council is being sued over the condition of the courts building," Jordan said. "We'll have some good information on it probably by the end of the year." It's not yet clear if Richmond might seek state funding for a courthouse project. At Monday's meeting, Chief Administrative Officer Odie Donald II said a project to replace the courthouse at its existing site could cost around $150 million based on the work done on the project to date. Donald said it appeared the court's preference was to stay at the current location. Local architectural design firm Baskervill is currently doing an assessment of the current courthouse and coming up with a plan for a "reconstructed courthouse," according to a court order. The firm is due to deliver a report by Nov. 20. Officials had previously considered setting up an expert panel to review the courthouse conditions, but that process is on hold until Baskervill's work is completed. The city's risk management team was also at the courthouse Monday, officials said, and should have a clearer picture of the extent of the damage later this week once things have dried out. 0:00 /0:07 1× *This is a breaking news story and will be updated* *Contact Reporter Graham Moomaw at* [*gmoomaw@richmonder.org*](mailto:gmoomaw@richmonder.org)