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Subcommittee hears city attorney's testimony as it advances judge residency amendment
Summary
HJR 805, a proposed constitutional amendment to require certain judges to be county residents for one year before election, was advanced after testimony from Mark Letcher (East Ridge city attorney) who said small municipalities lack resident attorneys and municipal courts strain county general sessions courts.
Representative Lehi, sponsor of HJR 805, said the proposal would amend the constitution to require judges of circuit, chancery and other inferior courts to be residents of the assigned county for one year prior to election. He told the committee that several small municipalities do not have licensed attorneys residing within city limits and that the change "alleviate[s] these issues by allowing the judge to reside in the county and not just the [municipality]."
Mark Letcher, who introduced himself as the city attorney for the city of East Ridge, testified the city lacks a resident attorney and that when a municipal judge position becomes vacant it is difficult to find a qualified resident replacement; he said the change would prevent county general sessions courts from being overwhelmed. After the testimony the committee voted to send HJR 805 to full judiciary, with the Clerk recording seven ayes and one no.
