Robertson County bar leaders urge commissioners to address cramped courthouse

Rhett Roach, identifying himself as a family criminal law attorney and the bar association president, told the Robertson County Commission on Aug. 19 that the county’s courthouse is overcrowded and mounting case delays are harming clients and attorneys. "We are way, way, way behind on a judicial center," Roach said, urging commissioners to reconsider a bar association resolution that the board had previously denied.

Roach described multiple court functions squeezed into small rooms — general sessions, juvenile, child support and circuit hearings — and said the lack of adequate courtroom space has driven scheduling delays, including divorce trials pushed nearly a year out. The bar gave commissioners a proposed resolution and said bar leaders (including Jonathan Garner and Bill Underhill) are available for follow-up.

Commissioners responded that the county has funded a preliminary study — "we spent $20,000 to do a study for a new courthouse," one commissioner said — and that the Greater Nashville Regional Council (GNRC) will assist with planning. No formal motion or vote to fund construction was taken at the meeting; commissioners discussed logistics, noted competing capital needs and emphasized the study will inform next steps. The county did approve separate appropriations at the same meeting for courtroom audio equipment and other departmental requests.