Plan unveiled to redraw state's judicial districts

There is a plan afoot to redraw the state's judicial districts. Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey unveiled the plan Monday he said was designed to streamline state government. If it happens, this would be the first time the districts were redrawn since 1984.

The plan reduces the number of districts from 31 to 29. Middle Tennessee will be affected greatly with Williamson and Rutherford counties designated as their own judicial districts due to dramatic population increases there.
There is a plan afoot to redraw the state's judicial districts. Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey unveiled the plan Monday he said was designed to streamline state government. If it happens, this would be the first time the districts were redrawn since 1984.
The plan reduces the number of districts from 31 to 29. Middle Tennessee will be affected greatly with Williamson and Rutherford counties designated as their own judicial districts due to dramatic population increases there.
As it stands now, Williamson County is part of a four-county judicial district that includes Hickman, Perry, and Lewis counties. Rutherford County is in a judicial district with Cannon County.
The plan would cause Cannon County to be redistricted to join Coffee, Warren, and Van Buren counties. Hickman County would go to a district in the north, while Perry and Lewis counties would join Maury, Wayne, Lawrence, and Giles Counties to the south.
Wilson County is part of the state's 15th Judicial District with Smith, Macon, Jackson and Trousdale counties that would go unchanged under the current plan. District Attorney General Tommy Thompson leads the district.
Ramsey said a lot of plans were discussed, but this one has the support of the group representing the state's trial lawyers. He also said it saves the state at least $600,000.
"I think taxpayers can be happy that we've reduced the size of government," Ramsey said.
The plan would have to be approved in the state Senate, House, and then signed by Gov. Bill Haslam before it could go into effect.