August 20, 1980 – Things become heated at the
Dirksen Federal Courthouse on Dearborn Street as Judge Marvin Aspen sends 14
sweaty jurors downstairs to the offices of the General Services Administration
to complain about conditions in the “sweltering courtroom.” “Maybe they’ll listen to you,” the judge
says. “They certainly ought to, because
you’re paying their salary.” The Chicago
Tribune reports that the assistant building engineer, Michael O’Connell, tells
the jurors, “Don’t expect it any lower than 80,” as he explains President
Carter’s energy guidelines, which call for the cooling of public buildings to
no less than 80 degrees. The real
problem, though, seems to be with the engineering of the building. According to the Tribune, “In recent years, some Dirksen Building courtrooms have
been so hot or so cold that a number of judges have said they cannot conduct
business and have threatened to cite the GSA for contempt of court for
obstruction of justice.” [Chicago Tribune, August 20, 1980]
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