IndyBar: The TCM and the CJC

By Hon. Marc Rothenberg, Marion Superior Court

“The film which you are about to see is an account of the tragedy which befell a group of five youths, in particular Sally Hardesty and her invalid brother, Franklin. It is all the more tragic in that they were young. But, had they lived very, very long lives, they could not have expected, nor would they have wished, to see as much of the mad and macabre as they were to see that day. For them an idyllic summer afternoon drive became a nightmare. The events of that day were to lead to the discovery of one of the most bizarre crimes in the annals of American history, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.”

In 1974, with those words, spoken by John Larroquette, Tobe Hooper’s Texas Chainsaw Massacre was cemented as one of the most gory, violent and terrifying movies in cinematic history. Famed Chicago Sun-Times film critic Roger Ebert said it was “as violent and gruesome and blood-soaked as the title promises.” Variety said the picture was well made despite the “heavy doses of gore.” There were stories of moviegoers leaving the screenings in droves, as the movie wasn’t only a Grand Guignol in film form, but because it was a true story. The only thing was … none of that was true. That’s the problem with perception. It creates a myth, for better or worse, that follows the subject for eternity.

Perception: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre was a blood-soaked gorefest.

Reality: The movie is largely bloodless. Director Tobe Hooper was told with little to no blood, the film had a shot at a PG rating. The only visible bloody action is when the killer, Leatherface, cuts his own leg with a chainsaw, and even that is minimal.

Perception: It was a true story.

Reality: While there were cannibals such as Ed Gein in America at the time, there was no real Texas Chainsaw Massacre. The reality aspect was a marketing ploy, one that has stuck with the movie over time. The film’s themes are a reflection of a post-Vietnam Watergate America rather than an actual incident.

Perception: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is terrifying.

Reality: It absolutely is.

So, you are probably asking yourself, what the heck does this have to do with the new Marion County Community Justice Campus (CJC)? Just as I have set the record straight concerning perception vs. reality in one of my favorite movies, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, I am here to set the record straight on perception vs. reality on another favorite subject of mine, the CJC. Over the past two years I have been the chair of the Marion Superior Court tech committee. I have lived, breathed, slept and dreamed of the new CJC. Over the past six months, the CJC has been my office, my second home. As the building of the CJC has progressed the legal community began talking and developing perceptions, theories and myths. I’ve heard the stories. When you little scamps get together, you are worse than a sewing circle. Not enough parking. Courthouse layout is confusing. Unsafe. Food desert. Tech is too complicated. I am here to tell you the honest truth and to debunk the myths surrounding Marion County’s Community Justice Campus.

Perception: There isn’t enough parking.

Reality: There are more than 600 free public parking spaces. Currently, the City-County Building (CCB) has no free public parking. Often it is a challenge, nay, a mythic quest to find somewhere to park. At the CJC, free parking should be plentiful. Beyond the free parking, for those that chose it, there is a paid parking lot with 100 spaces. Park your car at your heart’s delight.

Perception: The layout of the court building is confusing, and I will get lost.

Reality: There is one bank of public elevators with courtrooms on floors 0-9. Each floor has one hallway that all courtrooms are accessed from. The courtrooms are numbered with the first number being the floor, like a hotel. So, for example, room C0416 is on the 4th floor. It could not be simpler. On top of that, there are kiosks at the front of the building, and on each floor, that will show a map of the building. In addition, there will be a downloadable app that will assist you in finding your destination Finally, there is a staffed information desk in the main lobby that can help you in times of need.

Perception: There is no food in the area.

Reality: Admittedly, there is not a simple City Market-esque lunch place at the CJC. Yet. There is a canteen on site, much like in the CCB, and there will be a grab-and-go for a quick snack. There are, however, multiple places to eat within a short drive. Fountain Square is less than five minutes away, and there are tons of places to eat. The historic Steer-In is 10 minutes away. There is a plethora of restaurants scattered throughout the area, including a McDonald’s just across the street. Sure, they don’t always have the McRib, but what can you do? It is as easy as typing “restaurants” in Google Maps. Helpful hint: Don’t type “resurants,” nothing will come up.

Perception: The tech is too complicated to use, and I won’t be able to use it.

Reality: You are wrong. I said it. You are wrong. First and foremost, this is a brand-new building with cutting-edge technology powering it, but it is still a courthouse. Think old school rules with new school tools. Rules of evidence will remain the same; how you present it to the court and the jury will be different. DIFFERENT DOESN’T MEAN COMPLICATED. Do you have a PowerPoint you would like to use? Plug in your laptop. Do you have photos to submit? Send them via email before a trial or put them on a thumb drive. But let’s go to the next level … now you can do new things such as having a witness annotate an electronic map in real time from the witness stand or have a witness appear remotely if the parties agree. Whatever you do, the jury will see it on the huge wall-mounted monitors or their individual monitors located in the jury box. Need instructions on how to operate the equipment? We’ve got that covered too. There are training videos available as well as opportunities to visit the courtroom before your trial.

Perception: I won’t get to see the judges and the staff outside of the courtroom.

Reality: Generally, this is true. One of the initiatives taken to shore up safety concerns in Marion County’s courthouse has removed individual court offices. But have no fear: Court staff and judges will still be reachable by email and phone. Contact information is available on the Marion Superior Court website or will be available on the CJC kiosks.

I could go on, but I won’t. Is the CJC perfect? Of course not. However, it is safer, more technologically up to date and easier to access than the City-County Building ever was. Just give it a try, but please be patient. Like any change, there will be bumps in the road. Not only for you, but for everyone, staff and judges included. Trust me: When the dust settles, the courts in Marion County will be better than ever before. (Unlike the 2022 version of Texas Chainsaw Massacre, which was trash.)•