Criminal ct clerk workers let go

Lot of rumors going around right now that are focused on the Knox Criminal Court Clerk’s Office. (Actually, when aren’t there rumors going around over there? Heh.)

Anyhoo, I’ve been told that a lot of folks were let go. However, I just talked to incoming clerk Mike Hammond and he said that he and his incoming deputy chief Richard Major are currently interviewing employees (remember, he’s making everyone reapply), and that he has let only a “handful” of folks go.

“All I can say is that we’re restructuring and reorganizing the department and some of the employees are not being retained,” he said. “They’re not being fired, but not being retained.”

(Keep in mind that technically they can't be let go until next week.)

Hammond declined to say at this point how many are leaving, since he hasn’t talked to everyone yet.

He said the office has roughly 80 positions and that he expects to have the same amount when he takes over on September 2, although job titles, duties, responsibilities, whatever, will change for a number of them.

He noted that he’s trying to bolster a number of areas, like the front counter for the General Sessions Court, that he feels are weak.

Hammond said he'd release the new organization chart/information when he officially takes office.

County taking applications for magistrate spot; Deadline July 18

So, ever since Mike Hammond announced that long-time chief of magistrates, Richard Major, would serve as his top staffer when he takes over the Knox County Criminal Court Clerk's Office in early September, folks have been eying the soon-to-be empty seat.

And already there have been quite a number of applications, according to some folks in the local legal arena.

So, if you're interested, check out the ad - RIGHT SMACK HERE - on the Knoxville Bar Association's website.

Or read below:

• Qualifications – Licensed attorney residing in Knox County, Tennessee
• Term – Anticipated term to begin September 2, 2014
• Duties – Include, but are not necessarily limited to, issuance of arrest warrants, search warrants and mittimus. The judicial magistrates also issue forfeiture warrants and conduct jail arraignments by means of video. The judicial magistrates have the duty of determining whether or not probable cause exist to issue an arrest warrant when a crime is alleged to have been committed.
• Contact Person – Please send resume’ by July 18, 2014 to Donna Corbitt at:

Donna Corbitt
Judicial Court Administrator
Room M-70, City-County Building
P.O. Box 2404
Knoxville, TN 37901
(865) 215-2370 FAX (865) 215-2403

The local judges will weed through the applications and then send a number of picks over to the Knox County Commission, which is expected to vote on the matter during its August meeting.

Hammond talks criminal ct clerk's office, appoints new deputy chief

Mike Hammond

Incoming Knox County Criminal Court Clerk Mike Hammond on Monday announced a number of initiatives geared toward “moving the department into the 21 century” and appointed long-time chief of magistrates Richard Major to serve as his top staffer.

Hammond, who defeated two other Republican candidates in last Tuesday’s primary and doesn’t face opposition in August, will take over an office embattled in controversy on Sept. 2.

In the meantime, Hammond said he will visit similar operations across the state and meet with the county judges in the upcoming weeks in order to make the office “the prototype for the state of Tennessee.”

“I wanted change and I promised to move as quickly as possible,” he said, adding that “many of the people (in the office) are still using pencil and paper.”

Hammond said he’ll work with the county mayor’s office and the county’s information technology department to create a “comprehensive” and interactive website that allows the community to easily access information and pay fines and fees online.

He also wants to cross-train employees and create written procedures for the department.

“We’ll be looking at what we need to do to upgrade technology in our offices and the court room,” Hammond said. “We’ll look at real-time data . . . and look at getting new computer software.”

Richard Major

Current Criminal Court Clerk Joy McCroskey, who took over in mid-2008, opted not to seek re-election after a WBIR 10News investigation revealed that a short supply of technology and training inside her office created a series of problems that led to wrongful arrests, cases set aside due to errors and residents temporarily losing their right to vote.

McCroskey, whose office is the official record keeper for Criminal Court, General Session Court, and Fourth Circuit Court, denied much of the allegations.

Hammond said he also wants to meet with staffers and will “give them all a chance” to stay on board.

He said he also will rely on Major’s expertise to help him implement his plans.

“He brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the position,” Hammond said. “As we move forward between now and then Richard will be very involved with me.”

Major will replace current chief deputy Janice Norman who will retire at the end of August. Hammond declined to say how much he’ll earn, although the two have discussed a salary range. Norman currently makes $110,000 annually.

Major was appointed to the magistrate’s office in 2006 and took over as supervisor of the general sessions court magistrates in 2009. He earned political science and law degrees from the University of Tennessee.

Major on Monday said that he currently manages five attorneys and a number of clerks. His office, he said, is responsible for generating warrants and paperwork for the general sessions court.

The Knox County Commission will appoint his replacement in the coming months.

Hammond said hiring Major should send “a strong signal that we’re going to bring in top notch people.”

You can read the entire story, RIGHT HERE.