The chief judge of the federal courts in Chicago has long sought to address water quality issues at the Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse. A 2024 report commissioned by the court revealed Legionella bacteria—which causes Legionnaires’ disease—in the building’s plumbing system. Despite repeated requests to the General Services Administration (GSA), which manages federal courthouses nationwide, the agency has declined to fund a disinfection system necessary to eliminate the pathogen.
“The water is just one of many issues in our building,” Chief Judge Virginia M. Kendall stated, emphasizing that ongoing disruptions have severely impeded judicial operations. Across the nation, district court leaders have highlighted systemic neglect in courthouse maintenance, citing a list of critical issues submitted by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.
In Oklahoma, a judge relocated to temporary chambers after severe ceiling leaks persisted for over a year. Asheville, North Carolina’s century-old courthouse faces mold infestations and an outdated heating system, forcing court services offsite. Other judges have reported delays in addressing HVAC failures, ceiling damage, and pest infestations. In Florida’s Middle District, GSA’s response to persistent leaks has been slow, and repairs to a security fence in Ocala exceeded two years, prompting criticism from Chief Judge Marcia Morales Howard, who argued that the agency’s inaction undermines judicial operations and public access to justice.
These challenges reflect a broader federal facilities maintenance crisis. GSA Administrator Edward C. Forst has attributed delays to Congressional approval requirements for major projects, while arguing that the judiciary’s annual $1.3 billion rent payment is a cost-effective alternative to extensive repairs. He also cited a Government Accountability Office report noting judicial courthouse design standards may increase future costs. However, judges contend that relying on an executive branch agency to manage judicial properties contradicts principles of judicial independence.
Judge Robert J. Conrad Jr., director of the Administrative Office, emphasized, “We ought to be responsible for our own buildings. We ought not to be reliant upon an agency of the executive branch to manage our buildings.” The judiciary is now requesting Congressional authorization to oversee courthouse operations in 10 districts—a potential pilot initiative to transfer control. Senator Richard J. Durbin (D-Illinois) has indicated potential legislative support for such a move.
GSA spokesman Michael Tammero defended the agency’s “qualified” oversight, noting that courthouse repairs like those at Dirksen are already included in its upcoming budget proposals. He disputed the judiciary’s claims, stating, “The courts should remain focused on their core mission rather than engage in unsupported medical speculation.”
Tensions escalated after Judge Robert W. Gettleman, an 83-year-old Chicago judge, was hospitalized in April with meningitis and pneumonia. While unconfirmed, a doctor suggested Legionnaires’ disease as a likely diagnosis. GSA contested this connection, prompting Judge Kendall to demand action to prevent further health risks. By mid-June, GSA agreed to install the disinfection system, though completion lagged as of July.
The Chicago courthouse recently faced another GSA misstep: a 2024 renovation project involving criminal defendant cellblocks resulted in sewage backups, completed after 5.5 years at a cost exceeding $21.3 million.
Water expert Janet E. Stout, who consulted for both the judiciary and GSA, criticized the agency’s “conservative” remediation practices, arguing they sometimes amplified tenant anxiety without addressing root causes. Judge Kendall countered that interim measures like filtered showerheads fell short of mitigating risk, demanding more robust solutions to protect judicial personnel and courts users.