Butler County's courtrooms might have gotten a little too busy.

A memo recently circulated by Butler County Sheriff Dennis Rickard identifies the maximum amount of people permitted in each courtroom and public meeting room in the courthouse.

The maximums cited are fire code capacities as identified by Butler City Fire Chief Larry Christy.

But the numbers also are pretty much in-line or under the number of people called to court on critical days.

For example, next Wednesday, Judge William Shaffer is scheduled to oversee pre-trial conferences for 116 defendants who are responsible for 150 pending criminal cases.

Even without prosecutors, defense attorneys, deputy sheriffs, victims and family members, that number far exceeds the 68 people maximum for Shaffer's courtroom.

Another example occurs on big jury trial days when court administrators summon 150 potential jurors to the jury assembly room, which has a cited capacity of 148 people.

Tom Holman, Butler County deputy court administrator, said the numbers aren't as troublesome as they might appear.

He said even though those people are instructed to report to a given room, they don't all sit in that room at once.

On Shaffer's hearing day, for example, people who already are in jail will go to the judge's courtroom. Those who are free on bond will be directed to a different meeting room.

Holman said officials were never before presented these capacity numbers, but still they don't believe they ever exceeded them.

However, court officials, the sheriff and district attorney Randa Clark are meeting to determine short- and long-term solutions to the people problem.

"We don't think we exceed these numbers,"Holman said. "Now, we'll make sure we don't."

Holman said court officials are looking at models of how other counties deal with the same types of scheduling, but already Butler County courts are scheduled for 90 days.

"Any (major) changes wouldn't take place for at least three months," he said.

Clark and Christy could not be reached for comment.

According to a second memo circulated by the county's facilities and operations department, Christy's survey of the rooms was done on Rickard's request.

Rickard refused comment.

"Talk to the courts,"he said.

President Judge Thomas Doerr said that only the court will comply with the numbers listed.

Rickard's memo said if the courts are not in compliance, the county could be fined $300 per day.

County Commissioners' Chairman Scott Lowe said he was made aware of Rickard's request and the results only after the fact.

"This issue has been addressed and will be resolved,"Lowe said.

The maximum capacities, as identified by the memo, are:

• Courtroom 1:133

• Courtroom 2: 68

• Courtroom 3: 42

• Courtroom 4: 48

• Courtroom 5: 78

• Courtroom 6: 32

• Courtroom 7: 28

• Jury assembly room on the fourth floor of the Butler County Government Center: 148

• Juvenile courtroom in the courthouse: 27

• Public meeting room on the first floor of the Government Center: 69.