Deschutes County Courthouse partially closed due to water leak

(Update: Adding video, info about cause)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Portions of the Deschutes County Courthouse were closed and some court hearings delayed Monday after a water leak affected some areas of the building, officials said.

An order signed by Presiding Circuit Judge Wells Ashby said the “significant” water leak affected the accounting and public service counter, the basement file storage areas and the hallway next to the inmate transport area.

The front entrance to the courthouse remained open, however, with counter services provided at a temporary spot next to the court security area, the judge’s order said. But access to the courthouse was closed beyond the entrance to courthouse G.

Most scheduled court hearings were continued, except for some in-custody criminal court hearings by video and the Family Court docket.

Trial Court Administrator Jeff Hall said only three case files were damaged, but none were lost due to the leak, caused when a coil in a radiator vent broke.

Staff were working to dry out and salvage some documents in the courthouse clerk's office that got wet.

The main front counter windows are expected to be closed for three to five days, Hall said. Fortunately, he added, due to COVID-19, the courts already had put a temporary front counter workspace at the front of the courthouse, by security (where the metal detector is located).

Other than that shirt, Hall said, the courthouse is expected to resume full operations on Tuesday.