New security protection could be coming to Hamilton County courtrooms nearly three months after a brawl erupted during a preliminary hearing in Sessions Court.
A Nashville-based security expert who toured several criminal courtrooms last month is drafting a comprehensive report that examines the strengths and weaknesses of Hamilton County's security systems, according to information released Wednesday by the sheriff's office.
When Brian Grisham, of the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy, releases his findings "within the next few months," a wider conversation may begin with county commissioners, sheriff's spokesman Matt Lea said.
The sheriff's office, which reviews courtroom security measures, asked for the most recent study after a witness attacked a defendant next to Judge Gary Starnes' bench on Aug. 18. Officers quickly restored order, but the security lapse reignited talks about how much protection is necessary for courtroom safety.
Lea said the study "was not requested solely due to the incident."
Judge Gary Starnes speaks during a hearing for Aaron Roden at the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Courts building Thursday, Dec. 4, 2014, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Roden faces charges in connection with the vandalism of Westview Elementary, and another incident involving property damage and assault at Erlanger Medical Center. Still, the violent spat precipitated what many consider an ongoing conversation about security. Judges have panic buttons, bailiffs and a handful of court officers. And, in 2013, commissioners approved building an $8,000 bulletproof bench for courtroom No. 6 in Sessions Court, nicknamed "the fish bowl" because judges once used the same entrance and exit as the public.
"It's not only the judge that needs to be secured," Starnes said. "You also have the public. The people in my courtroom were terrified that day."
Ensuing discussions between Sheriff Jim Hammond, Chief Deputy Allen Branum and the Sessions Court judges led to Grisham's walk-through of the second and third floors of Criminal Court on Oct. 20, Starnes said.
With the courtroom emptied because of the annual district attorney's conference downtown, Grisham conducted a top-to-bottom analysis of the criminal division, exposing potential security concerns to judges David Bales, Lila Statom and Starnes. His probe will include Chancery and Circuit courts, Starnes said.
Grisham is not being paid for the assessment, said Kevin Walters, communications director with the Department of Commerce and Insurance, which oversees Grisham's department. For security reasons, no one would comment on specific changes.
County commissioners confirmed Wednesday that nothing about security upgrades has come before them recently. Still, they welcomed the news.
Greg Beck, District 5 commissioner and court officer for City Court, said "just a host of things" need improvement, such as more surveillance in the lobby, where anyone can linger once they pass through security. Courtrooms also need to prepare for volatile situations, he said.
"We've had several events where people in the courtroom have reacted to verdicts," Beck said. "And there's trouble as a result." Currently, there are 24 officers assigned to various divisions within the courthouse - Beck suggested more need to patrol the lobby.
Joe Graham said commissioners included money in this year's budget to make the Market Street entrance next to the sheriff's office at the new courthouse safe enough to enter. A series of metal detectors and security measures could reopen the doors, Graham said, which have been closed for at least a decade.
"There's been a lot of requests to open that up," the District 6 commissioner said Wednesday, "and it's for everybody's safety. The security and safety of our judges and the people using the courts building is very much a priority for us."
Contact Zack Peterson at zpeterson@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6347. Follow @zackpeterson918.