2023 Tennessee Code › Title 16 - COURTS (§§ 16-1-101 — 16-22-114) › Chapter 2 - JUDICIAL DIVISIONS AND DISTRICTS (§§ 16-2-101 — 16-2-522) › Part 5 - TRIAL COURTS (§§ 16-2-501 — 16-2-522) › Section 16-2-505 - Election of additional judges - Secretary - Courtroom security - Judicial candidates

(a)
In any judicial district in which §
16-2-506
requires the election of an additional judge, the election shall occur in August of that year. The qualified voters of the judicial district in which the election is required shall elect a person to the office of judge for that district. That person shall possess the same qualifications, powers and duties and shall receive the same compensation, payable in the same manner, benefits, emoluments and dignity of office as is required or provided by law for other judges.
(b)
(1)
If the election occurs in 1984, 1986, or 1988, the person elected shall hold office until September 1, 1990, and until that person's successor is elected and qualified. Thereafter, a judge shall be elected for an eight-year term. At the regular August election in 1990, the qualified voters of all judicial districts required by §
16-2-506
to elect an additional judge in such year shall elect a person to such office for a full eight-year term. The person elected in 1990 as an additional judge for each such district shall possess the same qualifications, powers and duties and shall receive the same compensation, payable in the same manner, benefits, emoluments and dignity of office as is required or provided by law for other circuit court judges.
(2)
If the election occurs in 1992, 1994, or 1996, the person elected shall hold office until September 1, 1998, and until the person's successor is elected and qualified. Thereafter, a judge shall be elected for an eight-year term. At the regular August election in 1998, the qualified voters of all judicial districts required by §
16-2-506
to elect an additional judge in 1992, 1994, 1996 or 1998 shall elect a person to such office for a full eight-year term. The person elected in 1998 shall possess the same qualifications, powers and duties and shall receive the same compensation, payable in the same manner, benefits, emoluments and dignity of office as is required or provided by law for other circuit court judges or chancellors.
(3)
If the election occurs in 2000, 2002, or 2004, the person elected shall hold office until September 1, 2006, and until the person's successor is elected and qualified. Thereafter, a judge shall be elected for an eight-year term. At the regular August election in 2006, the qualified voters of all judicial districts required by §
16-2-506
to elect an additional judge in 2000, 2002, 2004 or 2006 shall elect a person to such office for a full eight-year term. The person elected in 2006 shall possess the same qualifications, powers and duties and shall receive the same compensation, payable in the same manner, benefits, emoluments and dignity of office as is required or provided by law for other circuit court judges or chancellors.
(4)
Any vacancy occurring in the office of one (1) of the circuit court judges elected pursuant to §
16-2-506
shall be filled as provided by law.
(c)
Upon the election of a judge pursuant to §
16-2-506
, there is created the position of secretary for that judge. The judge shall select a suitable person to fill the position of secretary and that person shall receive the same compensation, payable in the same manner, as is provided by law for the secretary of the other judges in the district. The secretary shall perform the duties assigned by the judge.
(d)
(1)
It is the responsibility of the counties comprising the judicial district to provide a judge elected pursuant to §
16-2-506
with sufficient space and facilities in which to conduct the business and duties of the court.
(2)
Each county shall establish a court security committee composed of the county mayor, sheriff, district attorney general, the presiding judge of the judicial district and a court clerk from the county to be designated by the presiding judge, for the purpose of examining the space and facilities to determine the security needs of the courtrooms in the county in order to provide safe and secure facilities.
(3)
Upon completion of the examination of security needs, the following procedure shall be followed:
(A)
The administrative office of the courts shall distribute to each court security committee a copy of the minimum security standards as adopted by the Tennessee judicial conference, and each committee shall review and consider these standards in determining court security needs;
(B)
No later than May 15 each year, the court security committee shall report its findings to the county legislative body and the administrative office of the courts;
(C)
The county legislative body shall review and consider the recommendations of the court security committee in the preparation of each fiscal year budget;
(D)
No later than December 1 each year, the county legislative body shall report to the administrative office of the courts any action taken to meet the security needs;
(E)
No later than January 15 each year, the administrative office of the courts shall report to the general assembly on the compliance by each county government with the security needs established by the court security committee.
(4)
Any recommendation by the court security committee requiring county expenditures shall be subject to approval of the county legislative body.
(e)
Any person who seeks election to the office of circuit court judge, criminal court judge, law and equity court judge or chancellor, whether the judgeship is created by this part or was in existence on April 1, 1984, shall qualify as provided by law with the various election commissions in the counties comprising the judicial district in which the person seeks election. At the time of qualification, the person shall designate to each such commission the court and part of the court, if any, to which that person seeks election. If properly qualified, the names of all of the judicial candidates shall appear on the official ballot by the court and part of court, if any, previously designated and the candidate who shall receive the highest number of votes cast for judge of each part of each court shall be declared elected.
Acts 1984, ch. 931, § 5; 1993, ch. 506, §§ 1, 2; 1995, ch. 225, § 1; 2001, ch. 268, § 1; 2003 , ch. 90, § 2.