By Judge Lisa Lowe, Knoxville
“Doomscrolling” is a 21st Century word, defined as “the act of spending an excessive amount of time reading large quantities of negative news online.”
Everyone who owns a phone—meaning just about everybody—does it from time to time. So, sadly, we’re all aware of the seemingly increased tendency to resort to physical violence in our society.
We’re also seeing an increase in threats and attacks on members of the judiciary and in actual courtroom violence. A video of a criminal defendant jumping the bench and attacking a judge went viral recently.
The Tennessee Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims has courtrooms across the state. The security setup in each varies. Some have permanent security officers in the courtroom, while others have used a Tennessee Highway Patrol officer on a case-by-case basis, usually at the request of one of the parties or their counsel.
Beginning in April 2024 (next week), courtrooms without regular security officers will have a Tennessee Highway Patrol Officer present for all in-person expedited and compensation hearings. All of our security officers are there to ensure order is maintained and the environment remains safe for all.
In many areas of life communication is key. The same is true with courtroom safety. If you are aware of any safety concerns with a particular party or witness, please give court staff advanced notice of that, even if you know security will be present.
Trust your gut. This is what I have told my own children.
Workers’ compensation cases involve life-altering issues, and tensions can be high. We must remain aware and diligent of that fact.
From the Bench 
The safety of field nurse case managers is paramount. When we inform clinics about potentially volatile patients [injured workers], those warnings deserve serious attention and appropriate security measures. Unfortunately, we often encounter dismissive attitudes.
We regularly interact with patients who may be recently released from incarceration, lack legal documentation, or are upset about benefit terminations. As their point of contact, we can become targets for aggression.
Just as legal professionals require secure environments for their work, so do we. Field nurse case managers deserve to feel safe while performing their essential duties.
In the wake of Dr. Benjamin Mauck’s tragic murder at Campbell Clinic, it’s clear that increased education is crucial. Educating the medical community on the risks we face and the importance of robust safety protocols would significantly improve our working environment.
I’d be eager to contribute to educational initiatives that highlight these issues and advocate for the safety of field nurse case managers.
Thank you,
Dana Volner RN CCM LNC, CEO, Founder and Owner of Arete Consulting LLC
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