Orleans Parish Civil District Court closes due to air conditioning malfunction

The Orleans Parish Civil District Court was closed down at 1 p.m. Friday because of a faulty air conditioning system.

Court Public Information Officer Walt Pierce sent out a media alert stating that a "potentially unsafe environment for the general public and employees" caused the closure.

The Orleans Civil District Court and the First and Second City Courts were closed. Duty Judge Piper Griffin remained in the court until its regular 4 p.m. closing time.

This is the second time in nine months that a building malfunction interrupted regular court business. In October 2010, a false fire alarm led to a brief evacuation of the entire building.