Senate Bill 1432 proposes the establishment of a fourth division within the General Sessions and Juvenile Courts of Montgomery County, Tennessee. This new division will have the same jurisdiction and powers as the existing divisions and will be overseen by a newly created position of General Sessions and Juvenile Courts Judge for Division Four. The judge for this division will be appointed until the next election cycle, with subsequent elections scheduled for 2026 and 2028, and every eight years thereafter. The bill also stipulates that the qualifications, powers, and compensation for the new judge will align with those of the current judges in the county.
Additionally, the bill amends the rotation schedule for the presiding judge among the divisions, changing it from every three years to every four years, now including the newly established Division Four. The Montgomery County Commission is tasked with providing necessary resources for the new division, including a separate courtroom, and the Clerk of the General Sessions and Juvenile Courts will have expanded responsibilities to include Division Four. The bill requires a two-thirds approval from the county legislative body to take effect.