Washington,
Oct 2 -
Today U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson (3rd Dist.-Texas) announced the new Preston Road location for the federal Plano Courthouse. The U.S. General Services Agency (GSA) estimates a Fall 2007 occupancy date. Currently Collin County residents must commute to Sherman to address any federal legal matters.
“What terrific news for the people of Collin County,” exclaimed Johnson, who authored legislation in the U.S. House to create a federal courthouse in Plano. “I’m thrilled that the GSA was able to find a good location for the new courthouse.”
According to GSA, the lease for the District Courts and US Marshal Service in Plano has been awarded. The courthouse will be located at 7940 Preston Road in Plano. This build-to-suit lease construction project encompasses 34,310 rentable square feet for 15 years.
Johnson worked tirelessly with Judge Richard Schell and the two Senators from Texas to pass legislation to create a federal courthouse in Plano. In 2003 President Bush signed the bill into law to authorize the Eastern Judicial District to hold Federal court in Plano. Since 2004 the GSA has worked to find a cost-effective, secure location for the Plano Courthouse.
Judge Richard Schell of Sherman stated, “I am very pleased that after two and a half years since Congressional approval of the Plano Courthouse that we have reached the point that we have a signed lease. I am looking forward to the design phase of the project.”
Under the law championed by Johnson, judges in the Eastern District will split the court dockets between Plano and Sherman, where all Collin County cases are heard. This creates a tremendous relief for up to 75 percent of all cases in the Sherman division come from Plano. To help balance the case load, the law shifts Fannin, Lamar, Delta and Hopkins Counties to the Sherman division from Tyler.
Johnson represents portions of Dallas and Collin Counties.
