NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) – It’s an alarming number.

According to Nashville Metropolitan Police, there have been at least 8,587 victims of domestic violence so far this year.

Justice after such a horrific crime is so important. Still, this can be a very slow process.

In the player above, a Nashville judge explains why this is so necessary and how it should make the process easier.

Due to caseloads, Davidson County General Session Court judges have decided to add a third domestic violence docket and a fourth judge to preside over those cases starting in 2025.

“We have come to a point where we have to do something in the interest of public safety and in the interest of everyone,” Judge Allegra Walker-Birdine said.

Judge Walker-Birdine is the presiding judge, as well as one of three judges assigned to the domestic violence court. In turn, the judges hear two cases of domestic violence. One is for bail hearings and initial appearances, the other is for committal hearings and protection orders.

The new structure will place protection orders on an independent docket. Currently, if a legal dispute arises, these cases can support jail hearings. There are approximately 4,000 applications for protection orders each year.

“We will get more efficiency in hearing our cases. We will give people additional access to cases, so we can handle a few more cases. We can control the security in the courtroom so that it doesn’t “It’s not always so crowded and controversial to hold the defendants accountable, of course, as well as to protect the entire Nashville community,” Judge Walker-Birdine said.

Last month, Metro Council’s Public Health and Safety Committee focuses on domestic violence. They considered ways to keep more offenders away from their victims and ensure they face the consequences of their actions. There is so much at stake. Nearly half of all crimes committed in the county are related to domestic violence.

If you need immediate help with the protection order process, a Metro Family Safety Center attorney can help. You can find them at 610 Murfreesboro Pike, next to the Metropolitan Police Headquarters.

Do you have more information on this story? You can send me an email to [email protected].

She carries her husband’s legacy to raise money for Alzheimer’s research.

I am so inspired by Sheila Gann’s love for her husband and his resilience. Anyone who has lost a loved one to Alzheimer’s knows how cruel this disease is, not only to the patient, but also to those who love and care for them. Mike and Sheila clearly had a remarkable love story, and she’s now honoring it in the most beautiful way. Thanks to Forrest Sanders for sharing their story.

-Carrie Sharp