A growing East Tennessee judicial district is getting an additional judge.
State lawmakers led by state Reps. Andrew Farmer, Jeremy Faison and Rick Eldridge of East Tennessee passed legislation this session placing a seventh trial court in the 4th Judicial District, which consists of Jefferson, Sevier, Cocke and Grainger counties. It'll be a circuit court position.
The move is expected to cost $346,000 this fiscal year and $380,000 in subsequent years.
Farmer, R-Sevierville, said in a news release the judicial district has been "underjudged for many years."
Gov. Bill Lee, after signing the bill, will have to appoint someone to the position, to start beginning Sept. 1.
That seat will then be up for election in August 2026, with the officeholder serving four years. In 2030, that seat would again be up for election for the routine eight-year term.
A fiscal note with the legislation states the salary and benefit for the judge would be $262,000. The overall cost also includes hiring a secretary to assists the judge.
Some counties are their own judicial district, such as Knox, Blount and Anderson counties. Other, smaller counties share a district with neighboring counties.