Federal courthouse nears completion

LAS CRUCES (AP) - A $91 million new federal courthouse is nearly complete and expected to be completed in February.

U.S. District Judge Robert Brack, who is overseeing construction, says the building is in the home stretch and will be operating as a courthouse by mid-March.

U.S. Government Services Agency officials say the structure is more than 90 percent finished.

The 235,000-square-foot building will have eight courtrooms, including four magistrate courtrooms, three larger district judge courtrooms and one ceremonial courtroom.

The six-story building also will house the court clerk's office, probation and pretrial services, U.S. attorneys and the U.S. Marshals.

It replaces the 69,000-square-foot Harold L. Runnels Building that houses three large and two small courtrooms.

Information from: Las Cruces Sun-News