The Madison County Commission has pumped the brakes on building a new courthouse – for now.

County Commission Chairman Mac McCutcheon said the commission instead is still considering renovating the courthouse at the center of the downtown Huntsville square.

“It’s still a work in progress,” he said. “We’re still looking at the renovation cost. We still have some architects reviewing where we are and what it would take to get the building up to the standards of what we need.”

Among the main issues is space. The courthouse is home to commission offices. It also houses courtrooms and offices for the 23rd Circuit Court and district court, as well as the district attorney’s office. The courthouse was already cramped for space when a circuit judgeship was added this year to accommodate the county’s growth.

The Legislature recently added another circuit and district judgeship to help handle the increase in caseload. Those judgeships will be filled by the 2024 elections.

“We’re also looking at the possibility of tearing down and rebuild,” McCutcheon said. “The commissioners are working on it. We’re all working together. We’re looking at the numbers and seeing where they go.”