County Commission Chairman Larry Henry said he is "in no hurry" to fill the judicial vacancy caused by the sudden death of General Sessions Court Judge Bob Moon last week.
Chairman Henry said, "I am going to slow walk it. I want to be very deliberate and to get it right."
It will be up to the nine-member commission to make the appointment.
Chairman Henry said the process will likely be similar to that when Judge Mike Carter resigned from his General Sessions Court post. The commission took applications and then conducted interviews. In a 5-4 vote, the commission chose David Bales over H.L. Smith. Judge Bales is still on the bench.
Other judges in General Sessions Court are Ron Durby, Clarence Shattuck and Christie Sell.
Pam Melton, administrator of General Sessions Court, said she was finding temporary replacements to stand in for Judge Moon until a permanent judge is named.
Red Bank Judge Johnny Houston, who was a close friend of Judge Moon, sat for him today in Courtroom 3.
The lineup for the rest of the week includes attorney Stan Lanzo on Tuesday, Soddy Daisy Judge David Norton on Wednesday, East Ridge Judge Arvin Reingold on Thursday and Collegedale Judge Kevin Wilson on Friday.