In each county, the place for holding court is located in a building designated by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court or the Chief Justice’s designee, who, with the advice and approval of the Bureau of General Services, is empowered to negotiate, on behalf of the State, the leases, contracts and other arrangements the Chief Justice considers necessary, within the limits of appropriations and other funds available to the Supreme Judicial, Superior and District Courts, to provide suitable quarters, adequately furnished and equipped, for the Supreme Judicial, Superior or District Court in each county. The county commissioners in each county shall continue to provide for the use of the Supreme Judicial, Superior and District Courts such quarters, facilities, furnishings and equipment in existing county buildings as were in use by the Supreme Judicial and Superior Courts on January 1, 1976, without charge. The county commissioners are not required to provide without charge those quarters, facilities, furnishings and equipment in existing county buildings that were in use by the District Courts and were subject to a charge prior to January 1, 1976. [RR 2009, c. 1, §4 (COR).]

The facilities of the courts in each county, when court is not in session, must be available for other purposes. Arrangements for such use must be made by the Chief Justice or the Chief Justice’s designee. [PL 2009, c. 1, Pt. J, §1 (AMD).]

If the Chief Justice or the Chief Justice’s designee is unable to negotiate the leases, contracts and other arrangements as provided in this section, the Chief Justice may, with the advice and approval of the Bureau of General Services, negotiate on behalf of the State the leases, contracts and other arrangements the Chief Justice considers necessary, within the limits of the budget and funds available to such court, to provide suitable quarters, adequately furnished and equipped for the Supreme Judicial, Superior or District Court in privately owned buildings. [PL 2009, c. 1, Pt. J, §1 (AMD).]