Carter sworn in as new Sumner County judge
Sumner County courts should become more efficient starting Monday.
That's when General Sessions Judge Mike Carter takes the bench for the first time. He was sworn into the new position Wednesday, July 1, inside his courtroom in Gallatin.
"The only promise I can make is that I will work diligently to be impartial, be fair, give everybody their day in court and make the most rational and sound decisions that I can," Carter said. "It's almost surreal right now that I'm actually standing here because I wasn't sure this day would ever come."
The former Gallatin attorney, who lives in Hendersonville, was appointed through a 15-vote majority of the 24-member Sumner County Commission in March.
Carter will be the county's third General Sessions judge, assisting James Hunter with handling an overwhelming 30,000 adult civil and criminal cases on average each year. Judge Barry Brown handles juvenile cases.
Having another judge and court will save time for everyone involved, Hunter said.
"We'll be able to move people through court faster," he said. "People won't have to stay as long. It will be less congested. We won't go as fast and we'll have more time to spend on cases if we need. The whole process will be more efficient."
Why needed?
It's not uncommon for Hunter, including on June 24, to hear cases until 5:30 p.m. or later. He's stayed as late as 9 p.m. On many days, his courtroom has standing-room-only, which has the potential to create an unsafe environment.
"You have a room full of defendants and victims and a crowd of people," Hunter said. "It's not the best scenario in the world. A courtroom is not intended to operate like a treadmill."
This is the first time Sumner has three General Sessions judges, said Hunter, who started practicing law 36 years ago in 1979.
The rising need for a criminal courts judge isn't just because of population – it's also the result of better policing. "Today, they have better equipment and training," Hunter said. "They do much better job at solving crime."
Another addition to come along with Carter is a mental health court now in the preliminary stages. Hopes are for the new court connected to specifically focused probation program as an alternative to incarceration. The program could take off within six months. The county currently has similar programs for DUI and drug offenders.
"The idea is to help people with mental health problems to deal with the underlying issues," Carter said. "That way, we're not only helping them, but they're also not a burden on the taxpayers."
Combined, the new additions "will definitely improve the judicial process," said District Attorney General Ray Whitley.
"It's been long time coming, but it was worth every step of the way," Whitley said. "It's a great day for Sumner County."
Carter's background
Carter launched his career in law enforcement as an officer first in Texas and later with the Gallatin Police Department. He started practicing law 18 years ago in 1997.
He first put his name in the hat for judge in 2003 when commissioners appointed Hunter. Three years later, in 2006, Carter launched his first candidacy, that time for the criminal court seat that went to Judge Dee David Gay. Then, in 2014, Carter ran for chancellor of the Chancery Court, a position won by Louis Oliver III.
Carter's wife Kat held the Bible as her husband was sworn in by Hunter.
"I'm so proud," Kat Carter said. "He's worked long and hard, and he'll do a great job for the county."
Hunter's long-time assistant, Judy White, had one word for the new judge appointment: "Hallelujah!"
Efforts to hire another General Sessions judge to handle the growing number of adult cases began 16 years ago in 1999. Since then, Hunter and his predecessor, Johnny Jones, have expressed multiple times the pressing need, with all requests failing primarily because of insufficient funds.
Asked whether he plans to run for election in 2016, Judge Carter answered without hesitation, "Absolutely."
Reach Dessislava Yankova at 575-7170 and on Twitter @desspor.