Heat wave closes Middlesex courthouse
Limited business slated for today
CAMBRIDGE -- The city's court complex was closed in the middle of the afternoon yesterday, and court sessions were canceled for today because the temperature inside soared to more than 80 degrees. A lack of air conditioning was responsible, court officials said.
Robert A. Mulligan, the chief justice for administration and management of the state trial court system, officially closed the 22-story Edward J. Sullivan Courthouse at 2:15 p.m. because of extreme heat, a spokeswoman said.
But even before Mulligan closed the building, some court officials, including Middlesex District Attorney Martha Coakley, had already told employees to go home. The building houses about 350 employees and 370 inmates in the Cambridge Jail, which occupies the top six floors and never has had air conditioning.
Robert Duval, a 71-year-old engineer, was in court testifying as an expert witness before Mulligan ended court sessions.
''We just came out for a breath of fresh air," he said in a break outside of the building. ''It's hotter inside than it is outside."
The culprit was a delay in installing new cooling towers on the roof, according to the state Division of Capital Asset Management, which is overseeing the project.
The work was supposed to be finished several weeks ago, but was put on hold because courthouse employees raised concerns about the possibility of workers dislodging potentially hazardous asbestos.
''The sudden onset of hot weather over the last two days was unfortunate considering that [state officials] are nearly completed with the air conditioning system work," the division said in a statement. `
But, the division said, the system should be ready today, and cool air will flow in the building again.
Joan Kenney, a spokeswoman for the judiciary, said that the new air conditioning system had begun operating late yesterday afternoon, but that it was going to take a while for the building to cool. As a result, Mulligan decided to cancel court sessions today and said that jurors need not report. The superior court and district court were expected to operate with skeleton crews today.
The lack of air conditioning is the latest problem at the courthouse. Last month, Mulligan and David B.
Their announcement followed months of protests from workers who demanded that employees be relocated if their safety could not be guaranteed.
Chris A. Milne, a lawyer representing employees alarmed by the asbestos, said yesterday that some wanted to open windows but were afraid that air currents would dislodge asbestos.
Two law partners from Nashua, N.H., however, said the heat was no big deal.
''I didn't even notice it," said James W. Donchess.
Steven M. Notinger agreed.
''It's a little bit warm, but we have to get our jobs done," Notinger said. 