CityCenter case attorneys study possible courtroom scenarios

How is this for a scary movie: a committee of attorneys designing a courtroom for what could be a marathon trial.

Clark County District Judge Elizabeth Gonzalez on Friday took the legal teams from both sides of the CityCenter construction case to a courtroom within the Regional Justice Center that could be the potential home for a jury trial scheduled to start in January and possibly run until 2015 or longer.

Otherwise, the trial could wind up in a remote courtroom that the county leases.

The lawyers looked around and wondered:

■ Should rows of tables run parallel or perpendicular to the jury box?

■ Would narrow tables be unworkable for months of use?

■ Should rows of spectator seats be moved?

Also, Gonzalez has talked with the attorneys about the value and timing of possible settlement talks overseen by another judge.

However, she said, “I’m still in recruiting process and I’ll tell you it’s tough. All I have to do is mention the name of this case and (other judges) run screaming to the roof.”