Council sets staggered terms and July 1 start date for newly appointed associate municipal judges

The Summerville Town Council approved a motion to set the start date and term lengths for recently appointed associate municipal judges, setting their terms to begin July 1, 2025, and establishing two-year staggered terms for the two new associate judges.

Council action came during a special meeting when the presiding officer read item 1 on the agenda and the council moved to set the term lengths. Council members voted “aye”; no recorded opposition was announced and the presiding officer declared the motion adopted.

Council noted that Judge Jamieson’s term is four years and the two new appointees will serve two-year terms so the bench will stagger turnover. A staff speaker said the town’s ordinance does not specify a start date; the council described this motion as a temporary measure to establish term starts and noted the dates could be codified later by ordinance.

The motion was moved and seconded on the record; the meeting transcript does not identify the mover or seconder by name. The council did not take additional votes related to the appointments during the special meeting.

The council did not discuss personnel qualifications or identify the two new associate judges by name in the recorded portion of the meeting; the motion addresses only the term lengths and start date. The council signaled that future ordinances or council actions may formalize the start and end dates in the town code.

No further action was recorded on that agenda item in the meeting minutes presented at the session.