NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) – That’s an alarmingly high number.

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

Justice after such a horrible crime is very important. However, that can be a very slow process.

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

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

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

Judge Walker-Birdine is the presiding judge and is also one of three judges assigned to the Domestic Violence Court. On a rotating basis, the judges hear two domestic violence files. One is bond hearings and initial appearances, the other is jail hearings and protective orders.

The new structure will place protective orders in a separate file. Right now, if a legal dispute arises, those cases can support jail hearings. Approximately 4,000 protective order cases are filed each year.

“We will gain more efficiency in hearing our cases. We will give people additional access to the cases, so we can process some more cases. We can control the security inside the courtroom so that it is not always so crowded and contentious. Do “hold the defendants accountable, of course, in addition to protecting the entire Nashville community,” Judge Walker-Birdine said.

Last month, Metro Council’s Public Health and Safety committee focused on domestic violence. They brainstormed ways to keep more criminals away from their victims and make sure they face the consequences of their actions. There is a lot at stake. Nearly half of all crimes in the county are related to domestic violence.

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

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

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

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

-Carrie Sharp