[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6189890,"mediaKeyId","5054341-9e0710adab060567a3bcba6667ecc734","parentId",5054341,"title","County commission appoints William L. Monk Jr. as general sessions judge after multiple ballots","audioSeconds",1486,"startMs",2533000,"endMs",4019000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5054341-9e0710adab060567a3bcba6667ecc734&start=2533&end=4019","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5054341-9e0710adab060567a3bcba6667ecc734/thumbnail_2533000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6189890/Washington-County/Tennessee/County-commission-appoints-William-L-Monk-Jr-as-general-sessions-judge-after-multiple-ballots","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6189890-0d857a1224ddb903f7f3c4e031bd2ed8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771112334&Signature=RmteYdCK2EtDyGNun9sI2lTbd3Hq7TzCTX4jTy3-neziX9b-No5uiwKndbyF2AQRFRrbbmiH~F2l2icZRQkNiNnN8SH~93w05IdTj7-kGjScn0WYa3ud53NJf1ORdXDmZTUbcAqvS~HngjePjOB0JOE47OvDrTsUHgIslRl2QedG5O523BKgXH4lyupiR1ueoc7~g3OmCz7uUzHFhbl9GM-R0FNRaT65AyussvBQxiMHurisZlbMtNOVYGTzDkPQAqzYuqu8auKVAcG-3lVXcjP1x6FOaZFWDVwGjj67TJ43qQxO0PkwBX-5bHPRTWEm8jeHsiXbp8ZwO1lo3GpNmg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Washington County, TN","date","2025-06-24T00:47:39Z","article","Washington County commissioners on Tuesday selected William L. Monk Jr. to fill a general‑sessions court vacancy following nominations from the commission and multiple roll‑call ballots.

The commission accepted nominations from several candidates and allowed each nominee three minutes to address commissioners. Nominees who spoke at the meeting included Steve Darden, Nick Fama, Stephanie Sherwood and William L. Monk Jr.

After successive ballots the clerk announced vote totals and, on the final roll call, recorded that William L. Monk Jr. had received the votes required for appointment. Commissioners then invited Monk to the podium, and he thanked the commission. “Thank you for your time. I look forward to being the next general sessions judge,” he said.

The commission used a multiple‑ballot voting process prescribed in its rules. A clerk recorded each commissioner’s roll‑call vote. A county attorney confirmed the legal notice and process for the appointment had been published for the statutory period prior to the meeting.

Commissioners said the appointment is a preemptive filling of a vacancy that will become effective when the current judge’s seat is vacated in July; the appointee would serve until the next scheduled election for the seat.

The public and commissioners praised the slate of nominees and thanked outgoing commissioners for their service; commissioners noted the selection followed deliberation and a formal roll‑call process.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","June 23rd, 2025 - Washington County TN Commission Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","After nominations and several roll‑call ballots, Washington County commissioners selected William L. Monk Jr. to fill a general sessions judgeship vacancy; the appointment will take effect when the seat is vacated in July.","taxTitle","Washington County, Tennessee","taxId",19116,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6189894,"Washington County creates Office of Judicial Commissioners, shifts night-clerk funding",3972,6804000,10776000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5054341-9e0710adab060567a3bcba6667ecc734&start=6804&end=10776","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5054341-9e0710adab060567a3bcba6667ecc734/thumbnail_6804000.jpg","/articles/6189894/Washington-County/Tennessee/Washington-County-creates-Office-of-Judicial-Commissioners-shifts-night-clerk-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6189894-c3bd7dd92bceb1c6abd977327bf8e750/orig.mp4?Expires=1771112334&Signature=VGA8rFM7NN~iZ9t5t1NiusEo4udoUriCbcZNcBpuAefowLl68-5ttllMKvQEWy9~qqUxyhQpKfgErPcnhAdlexnJff2vHAyeIoHQSqWByPdI6UQsEQdeWO5bLlShuFlhJJCF-QhzhmgKQFoXGFWYMzpC1AaTzczRbsvNE3uF~P98Cl5z1IwHOVHGyqdRtQYIqRav0eEwTOj8yQ-nUzGYG3jqJSh6-DnZ~wSuVSENF-Rv9sFrfhi6XRVso-ighyxfNn4elBZ8DW7pNp1ywpa8KMmAcxwlUDo5UL~ftTfFY8z3IFibxzSKEvMg1HEBlf2l-2Ol83wQrq6NQ5rwDoyj7g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Washington County commissioners on Tuesday voted to create a Washington County Office of Judicial Commissioners and to begin a transition of funding from the court clerk’s night-clerk program to the new office.

The action, adopted after an extended public and commissioner debate, was approved by recorded vote 11–3–1. The resolution directs the county to implement a one‑year pilot structure for judicial commissioners who would have the statutory authority to issue bonds, sign certain orders and set conditions during overnight and weekend hours.

The measure matters because judicial commissioners have broader legal authority than the current night clerks, and supporters said the change will allow faster responses on time‑sensitive matters such as emergency orders in domestic violence cases, search warrants and bond decisions between regular court hours.

County officials said the first year will be funded by reassigning existing clerk‑office personnel dollars. “A budget amendment would move $221,479 from the court clerk’s night‑clerk line into the judges’ personnel budget,” the county explained during the meeting, and commissioners were told a formal amendment would be handled in August if the program proceeds.

Commissioners and court leaders described how the new program would operate. Appointees would serve one‑year terms with an initial probationary period; job qualifications in the proposed plan include a law‑ or criminal‑justice background and at least two years’ court experience. The judges said one presiding sessions judge would rotate supervisory responsibility and recommended quarterly oversight to monitor effects on jail population and bond practices.

County officials and law‑enforcement leaders urged built‑in reviews and “safety‑valve” steps should detention counts rise. Sheriff Sexton, who said the sheriff’s office will continue to run the jail regardless of the program, urged a regular review of population metrics: “I try I’ve tried to stay out of this argument because I really don’t feel like it’s the sheriff’s argument. The sheriff’s responsibility is to run the jail,” he said, adding that the county should track head counts and treatment‑program placements as the program unfolds.

County legal staff also warned of legal risk if statutory authority is not narrowly applied. The county attorney said a legal review had not examined every past bond or order but cautioned, “we may find that there have been orders signed by someone without the statutory authority,” and said the judicial‑commissioner model aligns Washington County with peer counties that have adopted similar programs.

Court Clerk Brenda Downs, who oversees night clerks now, praised current staff and asked commissioners to consider them for the new positions. “These five night clerks are phenomenal,” she said.

Commissioners said they expect to recruit and appoint commissioners through the standard hiring and appointment process and to reconvene as necessary to assess whether the program should be adjusted or expanded after the pilot year.","The Washington County Commission voted to create an Office of Judicial Commissioners to provide 24/7 magistrate authority, approving a program transition funded by reallocating night-clerk personnel dollars; commissioners stressed safeguards and quarterly review amid concerns about jail population and statutory authority.","actionData","errors"]

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County commission appoints William L. Monk Jr. as general sessions judge after multiple ballots

Washington County creates Office of Judicial Commissioners, shifts night-clerk funding