Night Court
Five judicial commissioners-- each possessing the qualifications of a judge-- perform as the principal committing magistrate in the adult criminal justice system for the Metropolitan Government of Nashville-Davidson County.
The judicial commissioners work rotating shifts and this service operates 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. The principal job responsibilities include the following:
Conduct probable cause hearings to determine if a criminal warrant should be issued and set an appropriate bail bond.
Issue ex parte orders of protection, as well as citations for violations of such orders
Determine probable cause for judicial committals from county psychiatric facilities
Each commissioner is appointed by the court for a one-year term that dictates seven-day work weeks and alternating eight-hour work shifts. The judicial commissioners are: Evan Harris, Steve Holzapfel, Tom Nelson, Carolyn Piphus, and Howard Taradash.
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