Governor says Rutherford County judge should be reviewed after report on the juvenile justice system

Gov. Bill Lee’s office says judicial authorities should conduct a review of a Rutherford County juvenile court judge. That follows an investigation by WPLN News and ProPublica into the practices of Judge Donna Scott Davenport.

“We are concerned about the recent reports and believe the appropriate judicial authorities should issue a full review,” Lee’s press secretary, Casey Black, said in an email Friday. “All criminal charging decisions are made within the judicial branch.”

The Board of Judicial Conduct would do the review. It says such procedures are confidential and the public would be informed if the investigation resulted in a public reprimand or formal charges.

Last week, WPLN and ProPublica reported that under Davenport, Rutherford County had locked up nearly half of the children whose cases were referred to the juvenile court. Many of the kids appear to have been held illegally.

Middle Tennessee State University, where Davenport was an adjunct professor, cut ties with her earlier this week.