Proposal to carve new 33rd Judicial District draws opposition from local prosecutors and public defenders
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Summary
SB 23‑28 would create a new judicial district to relieve Wilson County's caseload. District attorney and public defenders testified the 15th District is functioning, warned of added cost and service disruption, and urged the committee to wait for a statewide weighted‑caseload study; committee vote left the bill uncommitted.
The sponsor explained SB 23‑28 would create a 33rd Judicial District by moving Jackson, Macon, Smith and Trousdale counties out of the current 15th Judicial District, leaving Wilson County as a standalone district. The sponsor said the change responds to growth and local requests and would be implemented after the 2030 election, but acknowledged the bill does not include funding.
Jason Lawson, district attorney for the 15th Judicial District, told the committee he does not see current resource shortfalls; he described the district’s rotating judge schedule, local court coverage and standing practices to ensure timely hearings. Lawson warned that splitting the district would be expensive, duplicate services and risk reducing services rather than improving them.
Shelley Gardner, elected public defender for the 15th District, said the proposal would remove integrated services such as drug task forces, child advocacy centers and other collaborative operations, estimating significant annual operational costs based on prior redistricting experiences. Other committee members cited a recent weighted‑caseload study and noted a special committee that will report next winter; several senators said they prefer to wait for that independent analysis rather than proceed piecemeal.
After questioning, debate and an evenly split roll call (4 ayes, 4 noes, 1 present not voting), the chair announced the bill remains uncommitted.
Sponsor: the measure may return after the committee reviews the statewide weighted‑caseload findings and funding options.
