Fullerton courthouse to remain closed through week

The Orange County Superior Courthouse in Fullerton will continue to be closed through the week because of concerns over air quality related to asbestos, authorities said Monday.

It was expected to re-open on Monday, Dec. 30.

The North Court buildings were shuttered Friday when workers found potential asbestos material during routine maintenance of the air-conditioning system, said Kostas Kalaitzidis, an Orange County Superior Court spokesman.

All scheduled cases were moved to the Central Justice Center. Cases will continue to be heard at the Santa Ana court through Friday, officials said.

After that discovery, the facilities were closed and more air-quality tests performed. Those tests revealed that one judicial chamber contained traces of asbestos fibers that proved to be just above the permissible limit of California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health, officials said.

“All other areas were fine,” Kalaitzidis said, adding that the area in question was not typically open to the public.

Kalaitzidis said that because of ongoing construction at the facility, crews have been constantly checking the air quality and will continue to do so.

“We are optimistic that the court will be able to reopen this facility in the very near future,” he said.