September 25, 2020
By: Dwayne Page
The county commission Monday night will consider appointing two of the three judicial commissioners to serve for the next year.
A budget amendment will also be up for consideration to increase the monthly pay of each judicial commissioner by $75 per month. If approved their pay would go from $973 to $1,048 per month.
The commission will meet in regular monthly session September 28 at 6:30 p.m. in the Mike Foster Multipurpose center in the auditorium.
The judicial committee recently met and recommended two persons for reappointment to a one year term as judicial commissioners, Tammy Ashburn and Joy Whitman but also recommended that the third judicial commissioner position be advertised and resumes accepted. The committee will consider resumes received and make a recommendation on the that appointment at the October County Commission meeting. That position is currently held by Harvey Barnes and he may apply for reappointment.
The judicial committee is made up of Sheriff Patrick Ray, County Mayor Tim Stribling, Circuit Court Clerk Susan Martin, General Sessions/Juvenile Court Judge Bratten Cook, II, and Assistant District Attorney General Greg Strong.
Judicial commissioners are responsible for the issuance of criminal arrest warrants upon finding probable cause. They are subject to call at all hours of the day and night. Judicial commissioners serve at the pleasure of the county commission and their terms of office can be one year to four years. Judicial commissioners serve one year terms. Each of them are on call 24 hours a day for one week and then are off for two weeks.
Meanwhile, the County Commission will name a chairman and a chairman pro temp during Monday night’s monthly meeting.
County Mayor Tim Stribling currently serves as Chairman of the County Commission and 6th district member Jeff Barnes, the longest serving member of the commission at 18 years, is the chairman pro temp.
The County Commission reorganizes each September naming a chairman and chairman pro temp to serve for the ensuing 12 months.
Although the County Mayor is typically selected to serve as chairman, the commission could opt to name one of its own for that role.