Staff asks commission to declare municipal judge's office vacant after state disability finding

Staff presented a procedural request to declare the municipal judge's office vacant following actions by the Board of Professional Responsibility and an order from the Tennessee Supreme Court placing Judge Johnny E. Houston Jr. on disability and transferring him to inactive status.

Staff told commissioners those external bodies determined the judge is incapacitated to continue the practice of law and that the city charter now requires the commission to act because the charter's vacancy timeline has been exceeded. The proposed resolution (26‑1893) would declare the office vacant and originally read that the seat would be filled at the August 2026 general election; staff recommended striking that language and replacing it with "next appropriate election date" to allow the city to pursue the earliest feasible option (likely November) pending confirmation from the election commission.

Commissioners asked about the cost and cadence of special elections and whether the commission will appoint an interim judge under charter authority. Staff said the charter allows a resolution appointing an interim to serve until the next qualifying election or until a special election is held, and staff expects to bring an appointment resolution at the next meeting.

Why it matters: Declaring the office vacant triggers the city's charter procedures for filling judicial vacancies and may require coordination with the county election commission about ballot timing and special‑election costs.

Next steps: Staff will pull the item from consent to bring it as new business for amendment and potential action at an upcoming commission meeting; staff also will work with the election commission to determine the earliest feasible election date and the cost implications of a special election.