Criminal ct clerk workers let go

Lot of rumors going around right now that are focused on the Knox Criminal Court Clerk’s Office. (Actually, when aren’t there rumors going around over there? Heh.)

Anyhoo, I’ve been told that a lot of folks were let go. However, I just talked to incoming clerk Mike Hammond and he said that he and his incoming deputy chief Richard Major are currently interviewing employees (remember, he’s making everyone reapply), and that he has let only a “handful” of folks go.

“All I can say is that we’re restructuring and reorganizing the department and some of the employees are not being retained,” he said. “They’re not being fired, but not being retained.”

(Keep in mind that technically they can't be let go until next week.)

Hammond declined to say at this point how many are leaving, since he hasn’t talked to everyone yet.

He said the office has roughly 80 positions and that he expects to have the same amount when he takes over on September 2, although job titles, duties, responsibilities, whatever, will change for a number of them.

He noted that he’s trying to bolster a number of areas, like the front counter for the General Sessions Court, that he feels are weak.

Hammond said he'd release the new organization chart/information when he officially takes office.