News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Upper Cumberland needs more judges.
That’s according to a state comptroller’s report showing a growing deficit in the 13th Judicial District. The report showed the 13th district has a deficit of 1.3 full-time equivalent judges based on 2019 statistics.
Chancellor Ronald Thurman serves the district as presiding judge.
“Our numbers keep gradually going up, and, of course, the population is going up in our seven counties,” Thurman said. “The case load typically follows that lead to some degree, so we really need about another .6 chancellors and .6 or .7 criminal court judges to cover the case load that has grown here.”
The 13th District includes Clay, Cumberland, Dekalb, Overton, Pickett, Putnam and White Counties. Thurman said another judge is slated for the district, but that proposal has to go through the state house.
“There was a bill proposed in the legislature this year to add another judge to this district, but that was basically placed on hold with the COVID-19 breakout,” Thurman said. “I’m sure the state budget will be reduced because of sales tax will be lower, so I don’t know when the legislature will get to vote on that and the governor possibly sign it.”
The comptroller report showed the Upper Cumberland’s deficit, based on case loads and the numbers of judges, ranks third highest in the state. Across the state over that same period, criminal cases increased by 1.37 percent, civil cases by 2.74 percent, and domestic relations cases by 3.5 percent.
Although District 21 in Middle Tennessee will split into two districts in 2022, Thurman said he does not expect anything similar here in the near future.
“The governor and the legislature ordered a study for redistricting, and that was reported back recently to the legislature,” Thurman said. “It was recommended the 13th stay intact, and the way it’s configured right now, with Cookeville kind of the hub, there wasn’t too much travel distance. It’s functioning pretty well, and they did not recommend any division or taking any counties away from us. I suspect that will be the case until they order another redistricting evaluation.”
Thurman said he sees the need for another judge.
“I would hope it would go through the legislature,” Thurman said. “The question is, if we get it, will we get it with an appointment, which would take place in the next two years. Otherwise, if the legislature sets up another judgeship, they will run in the 2022 election with the rest of the judges.”
Currently the 13th District has five judges, two circuit and two criminal judges with Thurman as the chancellor.
