Andalusia’s Municipal Court on Friday began operating in its new facility on Coffee Street.

The new facility, located next door to the former municipal court at the corner of Coffee Street and Opp Avenue, offers additional space and improved security  for the court, Magistrate Ann Edwards said.  

In the former facility, court employees could not access their offices without leaving the actual courtroom. In the new facility, their offices are adjacent to the courtroom, enabling operations to run more smoothly.

Edwards said the new facility also has space to allow attorneys to meet privately with their clients.

Andalusia Municipal Judge William Alverson said the new facility provides ample room to accommodate the municipal court’s busy docket. On average, the court handles 140 cases on plea dates, and 44 cases on trial dates. Each is held every two weeks.

Alverson said the the older facility also left court employees potentially exposed during court proceedings.

“This facility will be safer for court employees, and for those attending court,” Alverson said.

Those attending court will enter a door located on the side of the building adjacent to the parking lot located on South Three Notch between the Prestwood Building and Blue Bird Coffee Co. This door will only be open during court hours.

Those who need to conduct business or pay fines in the court building will enter the door on the Coffee Street side of the building.

The former court facility will be used by the Andalusia Police Department as a dispatch center that will include equipment to monitor the city’s camera networks.