Judge Sherry Paty
City Judges Russell Bean and Sherry Paty told members of the City Council on Tuesday that the court is making money and "we stay busy."
Judge Bean said, "Judge Paty is totally loaded down, and I'm close to it."
At a budget hearing, Councilman Chris Anderson quizzed the judges on their "typical weekly schedule." The two judges share a courtroom at the Courts Building.
They said Judge Paty begins court at 8 a.m. for traffic cases on Monday-Wednesday and environmental court on Thursday morning. Judge Bean hears traffic cases beginning at 3 p.m. on Monday-Thursday. Judge Paty said on a recent day she was still hearing cases until shortly before the time for Judge Bean to come on.
They said they take turns handling the Friday morning docket, switching out each month. They said no judges at the courthouse are open on Friday afternoon normally.
Judge Bean said when the late Judge John Taylor retired from Division II that the city decided to drop that division. But he said that left Judge Walter Williams with so many cases that the second judge was brought back.
He said, "To me it needs two divisions."
Judge Bean said the court expenses, including the City Court clerk's office, were listed at $2,110,000. There is an additional $105,000 the city pays for space at the Courts Building. He said that is more than covered by $3,720,000 in collections from fines and court costs.
The judge said, after Judge Williams lost his jurisdiction to handle state cases due to a mid-term pay increase, that General Sessions Court next door ramped up to include five judges and three magistrates. He said that costs taxpayers over $1 million per year.
He said he and Judge Paty retain the ability to hear state cases - unless it is ruled they lost it by not exercising it over an extended time. But the judges said there would be a number of factors to consider, including housing of city prisoners and added court security, should the court resume hearing state cases.
City Court no longer handles parking ticket cases since parking enforcement was assigned by the city to CARTA. It also no longer has cases in which the judges decide on whether deteriorating houses and buildings should be ordered torn down.
Councilman Anderson asked about the two court officers for Judge Paty having city-furnished cars. She said those are needed because they serve subpoenas, She said officers serving subpoenas from other courts have government cars to show they are legitimate.
She said her officers "won't serve subpoenas without the government cars, so if those are taken away you may have to hire someone else." One of the officers is County Commissioner Greg Beck.
Judge Paty said the court officers do not use the city cars for personal business. She said they give her a report on the number of miles driven each month.
Councilman Anderson said he checked and found that the highest number of subpoenas served by the two officers in a month was 25. He said two months it was only six and the average is 14.
Judge Paty said the number of subpoenas is rising due to McKamey Animal Center cases.
Judge Bean opened the presentation by saying, "It is a myth that we didn't want to come over."
Judge Paty said she thought there was no need to come for City Council budget hearings since their budgets were very similar to prior years.
Councilman Anderson said the judges should be expecting to be quizzed in person each year on their budgets.
Judge Bean noted, "I don't know of any other judges who are called on to discuss their revenues."
Judge Russell Bean