Plan Aims to Cut TN Judicial Districts

The Metro Nashville Courthouse. Image courtesy of Metro Government

Sitting judges and district attorneys may have to face off against one another in the next election under a plan to redraw judicial district lines. Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey announced his proposal late Monday.

Speaker Ramsey says reducing the number of judicial districts would allow the state to focus funding in areas with heavier case loads, without necessarily spending more money.

He’d like to see 29 districts instead of the current 31. Ramsey says he recognizes the idea is unpopular in much of the legal community.

“In any kind of redistricting plan – whether it’s legislative or congressional – there is some fallout from that, but I think that’s good government.”

Ramsey says he’d also like every county with more than 100,000 residents to have it’s own judicial district. For example, Rutherford, Wilson and Sumner are lumped in with neighboring counties.

Organizations representing elected court officials have been asked to make their own proposals over the next few weeks.