Upsurge in arrests inundates Campbell court

CAMPBELL — There’s always a flurry of activity in the Campbell Municipal Court on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Cars line back to back down the whole stretch of Warhurst Road and Tenney Avenue because of people waiting to appear before a judge on the days court is in session.

Last year, about 2,400 traffic-related arrests and 633 criminal cases

were tried. This year, more than 3,800 traffic-related arrests and 885 criminal cases have come before the judge — and the year’s not over yet.

“It’s never been easy here, even before these arrest numbers skyrocketed,” said Christine Maker, clerk of court. “But it was definitely easier before than it has been lately.”

Maker said the courts added one part-time worker this year to keep up.

“Lately we work constantly from when we start at 9 a.m. until we finish early afternoon on court days without much of a lunch break,” Maker said. “And the morning of is always rushed since we’re entering newer felony cases into our system.”

For the complete story, read Saturday's Vindicator and Vindy.com