Richmond courthouse closes due to water emergency

Water could be seen pouring out of the courthouse Monday morning, according to a photo provided by a source.

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. Officials have indicated the building will reopen Tuesday.

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.

A video appears to show part of the ceiling collapsing in the office of General District Court Clerk Cecelia V. Garner.

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The water emergency comes after local judges raised serious concerns about the state of the courthouse building and whether the city government has been doing enough to maintain it.

In May, the judges took legal action 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.