Judicial committee votes to remove its policy manual, asks HR to assume administrative oversight

The Wilson County judicial committee voted to eliminate its standalone policies and procedures book and directed county Human Resources to take over administrative oversight of the judicial commissioners’ office.

Speaker 3 moved to "do away with the policy and procedure guidelines for the judicial commissioner's office" and to have HR assume the administrative functions; Speaker 4 seconded the motion. After discussion about which duties would remain under the TCA and which were administrative, the committee held a voice vote and Speaker 1 announced, "We did away with that book." The motion calls for HR to develop a dated set of personnel procedures to govern the office going forward.

The move follows the committee’s review of two investigator reports. Reading from the first report, Speaker 1 said the investigator "found no evidence on of unlawful harassment or retaliation" in the complaint involving deputy director Felicia Hale and "do not recommend any disciplinary action at this time," while recommending EEO training and a reminder to Director Colta Jerone that retaliation is prohibited. On the second investigation, Speaker 1 said the investigator produced a 10‑page report but "will not provide any recommendations," and that certain findings were "not appropriate to divulge at this time."

Committee members debated practical effects of removing the handbook. Several speakers noted that job descriptions were prepared by HR and would remain, and that an administrative director could manage scheduling, training and budgetary tasks under the county personnel policy while TCA protections would limit supervision over judicial decisionmaking. Speaker 4 cited CTAS attorney guidance that a director’s role would be administrative only and that, if the county pays benefits and withholds taxes, the director and assistant director should be considered county employees.

Separately, Speaker 1 said the county’s insurer contacted staff about a possible settlement in the ongoing Marsh lawsuit. Speaker 1 moved that staff discuss settlement options with the insurer and return to the committee with any proposed terms; members confirmed the committee could reject settlement terms and proceed to trial. Speaker 1 described the proposal as exploratory and asked staff to bring any offers back to the committee for consideration.

The meeting concluded with the committee agreeing to have HR draft the replacement personnel material and to have staff pursue insurer discussions about Marsh and report back. No roll‑call vote totals were recorded in the transcript; members conducted voice votes on motions as noted.