By Chief Judge Kenneth M. Switzer, Nashville
We’ve tried this once before. “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again” is a well-known phrase.
I thought, where did that phrase originate? It’s amazing how a search of this phrase is attributed to different people: Robert the Bruce, king of Scotland in 1314 (picture Mel Gibson in Braveheart); Edward Hickson, 19th century poet; Thomas Palmer, an American educator; Benjamin Franklin, Abraham Lincoln, Shakespeare, and maybe Joe Biden?
Anyway, we’re going to try again to restore some normalcy to the world and implement optional in-personsettlement hearings beginning the week of January 10, 2022. At that point, it will be 22 months since we discontinued in-person settlement approvals due to the pandemic.
You might recall we intended to start up again in September 2021, but the COVID variant thwarted that effort. Seemingly, or so I am told, we have outlasted that. So, here we go again with this new effort.
Below you will see links to the various court locations that will inform you of their processes for in-person settlements. Read them carefully as to how to get on the in-person docket.
I’m sure there will be a few bumps in the road, but we will survive. Patience is a virtue.
NOTE: Presently in-person approvals will be optional. Let me say that again; in-person settlement approvals will be optional. We’ll still have phone approvals on designated days. READ the court links carefully, please.
Now a special note for Cookeville and Murfreesboro.
Judge Durham will be using the old Putnam County Courthouse for his in-person settlements and hearings.
Judge Tipps in Murfreesboro is presently without a courtroom due to ongoing renovations. He will continue to do settlement approvals by phone only until those renovations are complete. We’ll let you know when that changes.
Follow these links for information on in-person procedures.
It will be great to see you again.
From the Bench 