Private Acts of 2000 Chapter 72

SECTION 1. As used in this Act, unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) “Court” means the Juvenile County of Rutherford County.

(b) “Judge” means the Judge of the Juvenile Court of Rutherford County.

(c) “Clerk” means the Circuit Court Clerk or Deputy Clerk of Rutherford County.

SECTION 2. There is created, in Rutherford County, a Juvenile Court to be known and styled as the Juvenile Court of Rutherford County. Such court shall be a court of record and shall be presided over by a Judge who shall have the qualifications and salary provided by this Act.

SECTION 3. A Judge for such court shall, upon the approval of this Act, be appointed who shall be licensed to practice law in this State and who possesses all other qualifications of judges of inferior courts, as provided by law. The Judge shall be elected in the August general election to serve from September 1, 2000, to August 31, 2006. Thereafter, the term of office shall be eight (8) years, and such Judge shall be licensed to practice law in the state of Tennessee and shall possess all the qualifications of the inferior courts. The elected Judge shall take and subscribe to the same oath of office as that subscribed for the Judges of the Circuit and General Session Courts. In the event the office of the Judge shall become vacant by reason of death, resignation, retirement, or any other reason before the expiration of said term of office, such vacancy shall be filled by a majority of the Rutherford County Commission members until the next county general election. The Rutherford County Eection (sic) Commission shall set the qualifying deadlines for the August 3, 2000, General Elections.

SECTION 4. The Rutherford County Circuit Court Clerk shall serve as Clerk of the Rutherford County Juvenile Court and any of such clerk’s deputies shall also be deputies for the Juvenile County created by this Act.

SECTION 5. The Judge and Clerk of such Juvenile Court shall have all of the jurisdiction, powers, duties, and authority of other Juvenile Court Judges and Clerks as provided in Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 37 or any other general law.

SECTION 6. Effective September 1, 2006, the salary of the Juvenile Court Judge shall be commensurate with that established by Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 16-15-5003 for general sessions court judges of the same county class as Rutherford County. Any subsequent salary increases provided by that section or any other provision of law for general sessions court judges of the same county class as Rutherford County shall also apply to the Juvenile Court Judge.

SECTION 7. The Juvenile Court Judge shall not be allowed to participate in the practice of law in all other courts within the court system and shall be prohibited from performing any services in any of such courts. The Judge shall be a full-time position.

SECTION 8. The Judge is authorized to make and promulgate rules and regulations for the administration and efficient operation of the court and to fix the times and places at which all persons within the jurisdiction of the court shall have their causes set for disposition.

SECTION 9. The Judge shall, pursuant to the laws and regulations of Rutherford County, appoint such personnel as may be necessary to efficiently carry on the business of the court. All such appointments shall be limited by the total appropriations made for such personnel during each fiscal year by the county legislative bodies.

SECTION 10. The county legislative body shall provide the court with facilities adequate and sufficient to allow the court to perform its duties as a Juvenile Court.

SECTION 11. All unfinished and pending matters in the court or courts exercising Juvenile Court jurisdiction, prior to the date this Act takes effect, shall be transferred to the court created by this Act at the close of business on the day preceding the day this Act becomes effective. On such date, all official books, records, and other documents pertaining to any matter within the jurisdiction of the Juvenile Court shall be delivered to such court.

SECTION 12. If any provision of this Act, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions, or application of the Act which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to that end, the provisions of this Act are declared to be severable.

SECTION 13. This Act shall have no effect, unless it is approved by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the County Legislative Body of Rutherford County. Its approval or nonapproval shall be proclaimed by the presiding officer of the Rutherford County Legislative Body and certified by him to the Secretary of State.

SECTION 14. For the purpose of approving or rejecting the provisions of this Act, it shall be effective upon becoming law, the public welfare requiring it. For all other purposes, it shall become effective upon being approved, as provided in Section 13.

Passed: February 7, 2000.