§ 16-2-522 — Advisory task force to review composition of judicial districts

(a) (1) By no later than July 1, 2025, the speaker of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives shall establish an advisory task force to review the composition of Tennessee's current judicial districts codified at § 16-2-506 . (2) The task force shall be composed of fourteen (14) members, as follows: (A) Three (3) current trial court judges, one (1) representing each grand division. The speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint the trial court judges representing the eastern and middle grand divisions, and the speaker of the senate shall appoint the trial court judge representing the western grand division; (B) Three (3) current district attorneys general, one (1) representing each grand division. The speaker of the senate shall appoint the district attorneys general representing the eastern and middle grand divisions, and the speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint the district attorney general representing the western grand division; (C) Three (3) current district public defenders, one (1) representing each grand division. The speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint the district public defenders representing the eastern and middle grand divisions, and the speaker of the senate shall appoint the district public defender representing the western grand division; (D) Three (3) citizen members, one (1) representing each grand division. The speaker of the senate shall appoint the citizens representing the eastern and middle grand divisions, and the speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint the citizen representing the western grand division; and (E) The chairs of the judiciary committee of the senate and the civil justice committee of the house of representatives. (3) The legislative members of the task force serve as joint chairs of the task force. (4) By no later than January 1, 2027, the task force shall complete its findings and recommend and publish a proposed statewide judicial redistricting plan. The plan must provide reasonable and timely access to Tennessee's circuit, chancery, and criminal courts and must promote the efficient utilization of publicly funded resources allocated for the courts. (5) Prior to completing its findings and recommending this plan, the task force shall conduct at least one (1) public hearing within each of the three (3) grand divisions and shall receive oral and written testimony from interested organizations and citizens of this state. In addition, the task force shall establish a publicly accessible judicial redistricting task force page on the website of the administrative office of the courts for redistricting-related information, including meeting notices and redistricting plans. (6) The task force shall deliver a report of its findings, as well as its proposed judicial redistricting plan, to the governor, the speakers of the senate and house of representatives, the judiciary committee of the senate, the civil justice committee of the house of representatives, and the administrative office of the courts at least one (1) week prior to publication of the proposed judicial redistricting plan. (7) The administrative office of the courts shall provide support services to the task force created under this section. (8) The members of the task force shall serve without compensation but are entitled to reimbursement of travel expenses incurred. All reimbursement for travel expenses must be in conformity with the comprehensive state travel regulations as promulgated by the commissioner of finance and administration and approved by the attorney general and reporter. (9) The task force ceases to exist upon completion of the task force's report and recommendations. (b) On or before December 31, 2027, following submission of a proposed redistricting plan, it is the duty of the general assembly to: (1) Reapportion the judicial districts codified at § 16-2-506 to provide reasonable and timely access to Tennessee's circuit, chancery, and criminal courts; and (2) Promote the efficient utilization of publicly funded resources allocated for the courts. (c) If the legislature fails to pass legislation required by subsection (b), then the funding for each judicial district that has a disproportionately high number of judges, as determined by the comptroller, must be reduced by ten percent (10%) during the subsequent fiscal year; provided, that this subsection (c) is subject to appropriations in the general appropriations act. The comptroller shall determine which judicial districts have a disproportionately high number of judges based on the most recent census data and weighted caseload report required by § 16-2-513 and provide the determination to the finance, ways and means committees of the house of representatives and senate.

Legislative History

Added by 2022 Tenn. Acts, ch. 1098, s 1, eff. 5/27/2022.