Next in the 2022 Judicial election series is the Putnam County General Sessions Court. General Sessions Courts have limited jurisdiction in both civil and criminal cases. Each county’s jurisdiction is determined by state laws and private acts.
Criminal jurisdiction includes preliminary hearings in felony cases and misdemeanor trials in which a defendant waives the right to a grand jury investigation and trial by jury in Circuit or Criminal Court. Civil jurisdiction is restricted to specific monetary limits and types of actions. In Putnam County, the General Sessions Judge also has Juvenile Court jurisdiction.
In 1994, Putnam County General Sessions was divided into Part I and Part II by Private Act. Both parts of the Court have the same authority, jurisdiction, and responsibility for all of the matters brought before the Court. The judges may interchange and preside over all General Sessions matters, civil or criminal. They “fill-in” for each other regularly during illnesses, vacations, or other times when one or the other Judge is absent. The current judges have divided the court such that Part I handles civil cases while Part II handles criminal and juvenile cases. There is no legislated, statutory designation causing “Part l” or “Part ll” to be responsible for what they now preside over.
At this time, no candidates have announced a challenge to Republican Part I incumbent Judge Steven D. Qualls.
Republican Incumbent – Putnam General Sessions Judge, Part I
Graduate of Tennessee Tech University – 1992
Graduate of Nashville School of Law- 1996
Served as Vice Mayor of the City of Cookeville (August 2002 – August 2006)
Cookeville Regional Medical Center, Board of Trustees (November 2007 to August 2012)
Chairman of the Board (August 2010 to August 2011)
Partner of Qualls and Fry Attorneys (September 1998 – August 2014)
Practice of Domestic and Family law and Civil Litigation
Monterey Municipal Judge (October 2006 to January 2017)
Member:
Upper Cumberland/Putnam County Bar Association
Tennessee Bar Association
Candidate provided Info:
Putnam County General Sessions Court Part II
I am R. Steven Randolph and I am a Republican candidate for Putnam County General Sessions Court Judge, Part II. I have lived in Putnam County my entire life. Bobby Dean Randolph (deceased) and Sandra Wilson Randolph are my parents. They have owned several businesses throughout their lives, but they are best known for being the original owners and operators of the Algood Diner. In addition, Bobby Dean Randolph previously served on the Algood city council.
I graduated from Cookeville High School in 1991, with honors. I graduated Tennessee Technological University in 1995 with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Criminal Justice and a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology. Upon graduation from TTU in 1995, I began law school at the Nashville School of Law. While studying law at night, I worked during the day with juveniles. I worked as a residential rehabilitation therapist at the Adolescent Diagnostic and Evaluation Center (A.D.E.C.) located at Plateau Mental Health Center. Later, I worked at Youth Villages as a behavior specialist. It was my work and training with these jobs that provided me important information regarding the abuse, neglect, and delinquent issues that many of the children and families in our community suffer from on a regular basis.
Upon graduation from law school, I passed the Tennessee Bar Exam and began private practice. I have remained in private practice since 1999 and I primarily handle cases dealing with divorce, custody, child support, orders of protections, the Department of Children’s Services, criminal law, and other types of cases that the Putnam County General Sessions Court or Juvenile Court regularly hears. Some of the work that I am most proud of are the adoptions that have become a significant part of my legal practice.
Some additional facts about me:
- I served as the city attorney for Algood, TN from 2003 – 2009.
- My family and I attend Life Church in Cookeville, TN.
- My wife, Jennifer Barcus Randolph, and I have been married since 1997. We met after I graduated high school in 1991 and we have been together ever since. We have two sons. Tyler Randolph is a junior at TTU and Matthew Randolph is a senior at CHS. Both sons work at the Cookeville YMCA.
- I have been a previous member of the Sunset Rotary Club and I have assisted that organization with various charitable activities.
- In 2007, I received an award from the Upper Cumberland Region of the Department of Children’s Services for my work with children and adoptions.
- My wife and I remain involved with Hope Center Adoption and Family Services.
The General Sessions Judge of Putnam County serves and protects the citizens of Putnam County. I pledge to always show professionalism and respect to everyone that comes before the court. My family values and conservative beliefs will help guide me in remaining fair but firm, as I apply the law to the facts of each individual case.
I have been fortunate during this campaign to have the opportunity over the last several months to discuss with law-enforcement, court clerks, lawyers, and judges in Putnam County and our surrounding counties, the state of our court system. My goals are to make the court more efficient, safer, and to save taxpayer funds. This may include procedures that include the use of available technology to handle some inmate issues by video, so that inmates remain secure and in the jail. Inmate issues may also be addressed earlier in the morning, before court begins for everyone else. Announcements regarding cases will be heard in a timely manner. Fewer and shorter court recesses will be taken, so that the cases will continue to progress faster. I am aware of the amount of time that victims, witnesses, agency representatives, and law-enforcement officers currently spend in court. My goal is to make better use of their time, so that they can get back home, back to work, or get back on the roads to protect our community sooner. As I continue to speak with law-enforcement, court clerks, judges, and other individuals that regularly participate in our court system, I will be able to implement the best ideas and the best suggestions, so that Putnam County has the most efficient General Sessions Court available.
I look forward to serving as your next General Sessions Judge of Putnam County and I ask for your vote and support.
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My name is Laurie Seber, and I am seeking the position of Putnam County General Sessions Judge, Part II. I was born and raised in Overton County, in the small community of Allons. I graduated from Tennessee Technological University and then Regent University Law School in 2002, before being admitted to the Virginia Bar.
I began my career in a local law firm in Newport News, Virginia primarily focusing on family law, criminal defense, and bankruptcy. The Upper Cumberland drew me back in 2008 when my mother became critically ill. I spent that year in and out of the hospital with her, and thankfully, she made a full recovery. I was then able to return to my legal career.
After being admitted to the Tennessee Bar in 2009, I began working with the Department of Children’s Services and advocating for the rights of the most vulnerable citizens, our children. I consider my time at the Department of Children’s Services to be some of the most important work I have ever done. Without that opportunity, I would not have such an intimate understanding of the foster care system or the awareness of how rampant abuse is in our very own community.
After my four years at DCS, I believed it was time to enter private practice to work for the citizens of the Upper Cumberland who needed legal assistance. I have been a solo practitioner in Cookeville since 2013. Over the course of my career, I have handled thousands of cases.
The variety of work I have done and the mix of cases I have handled make me uniquely suited for this role. In addition to local courts in multiple counties and jurisdictions, I have also have insight into the Tennessee Court of Appeals, having argued multiple cases there. Regardless of where I worked, advocacy for my clients has been the greatest of privileges for these past two decades.
I have decided to run for the Republican nomination for General Sessions Judge because I know that I can make a difference. I have the necessary experience to ensure this court is conducted efficiently and effectively. I believe that justice should be approached with common sense. I am also a firm believer that truth prevails when there is zealous advocacy for both sides of the case.
I am a conservative Christian Republican and pledge to uphold the Constitutions of the United States and the State of Tennessee and to faithfully and impartially discharge the duties of the office. I promise to work hard for you every day. I humbly ask for your prayers, support, and your VOTE in the May primary to be your General Sessions Judge.
PERSONAL STATEMENT OF CANDIDATE SEBER
Like many who are raised in the Upper Cumberland, the concepts of hard work,
faith and family drive my work ethic. The values instilled in me through my parents and the educational system of my rural heritage have continued to be the guiding Christian principles of my life today. My vision in seeking the office of
General Sessions Judge is to serve the people of this great community, no matter their walk in life, and to continue the traditions of honest and impartial judicial temperament. I would be honored if you would vote for me in the Republican Primary on May 3rd.
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