Former Smithville Police Chief Richard Jennings has been appointed as judicial commissioner by the county commission to fill a vacancy created by the recent resignation of Taft Hendrixson due to health reasons.
Jennings was among sixteen applicants for the position but he was the one recommended by the county’s judicial committee made up of the General Sessions/Juvenile Court Judge, Sheriff, Circuit Court Clerk, County Mayor, and a representative of the District Attorney General’s Office.
County Mayor Tim Stribling presented the committee’s recommendation during Monday night’s monthly meeting of the county commission. All thirteen members voted for Jennings. The county has three judicial commissioners including Jennings, James Harvey Barnes, and Tammy Ashburn. Barnes , Ashburn, and former judicial commissioner Hendrixson were appointed by the county commission to the positions for a one year term last September as recommended by the judicial committee.
Others who had applied to fill the vacancy include Kelly Myers, Chelsie Bryant, James Newsom, Boyd Bruce Malone, Mark Violet, Kassy Kelly Swisher, Brian Reed, Timothy Perricone, Richard Mielke, III, Mark Steff, Joey Crabtree, Sandy Brown, Bennett Armstrong, Danny Cowan, and Kenneth Taylor.
The county re-advertised the opening last month after receiving only one application during the first filing period. The lone applicant was the spouse of a Smithville Police Officer and members of the judicial committee were concerned that this could be viewed as a conflict.
Judicial commissioners are responsible for the issuance of criminal arrest warrants upon finding probable cause. They are subject to call at all hours of the day and night. Judicial commissioners serve at the pleasure of the county commission and their terms of office can be one year to four years.
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