SB2025

Establishes a pilot project to create criminal magistrate positions in Tennessee's ten highest caseload counties.

The bill creates a pilot project to establish criminal magistrate positions in the ten Tennessee counties with the highest judicial caseloads. These magistrates will handle arraignments, initial appearances, pleas, search and arrest warrants, preliminary hearings, and summary adjudication orders for misdemeanors and certain felonies. Counties eligible for the pilot must be notified by the administrative office of the courts by December 1, 2026. Local legislative bodies can create the magistrate position by ordinance, with appointments by county judges starting no earlier than January 1, 2027.