September 3, 1998
Judge Patricia Hess
Juvenile Court
Anderson County Courthouse
Clinton, Tn 37716
RE: Juvenile Court Week of September 21 -September 25, 1998
Dear Judge Hess,
Because of new expanded regular court hours for criminal courts
requiring an increased presence of prosecutors in Sessions Courts
(Clinton and Oak Ridge) and in Criminal Court (which is now setting
motions in criminal cases every Monday and every
Friday and jury trials on at least 6 days each month) and because
of appeals of juvenile cases to Chancery and because of judges
who do additional days of "special settings", our office
will no longer be able to provide a prosecutor in Juvenile Court
on days when Beth Boatner is not available. This will necessarily
include the whole week of September 21st through September
25th when Ms. Boatner will be on vacation.
As District Attorney, I am obligated to give my staff of state
employees vacation and sick leave days, and additionally the staff
attorneys require days for CLE so as to retain their law licenses.
This office appreciates the importance of Juvenile Court and
intends to continue representing the State in delinquency proceedings
as far as possible-status offenses could be more appropriately
handled by others, e.g. the school board attorney appointed by
the Court on truancy cases.
Because Juvenile Court has a statutory option under T.C.A. 37-1-124
and also under TR J Pr 8 and 19 (as amplified by accompanying
Advisory Committee Comments) to appoint others as prosecutors,
it appears that the legislature has contemplated these situations
where district attorney have limited resources.
We will give the court notice of scheduled vacations and CLE
classes.
Very truly yours,
James N. Ramsey
District Attorney General
