Administration:  County Judges

1. Acts of 1856, Chapter 253, Page 511, provided for a County Judge in every County in the State who would be learned in the law, elected by popular vote for four year terms, and who would be sworn and commissioned as all other Judges were. Quorum Courts were abolished, and the County Judge would assume all the responsibilities of the County Chairman. The Court would meet on the first Monday in every month. The Court would have jurisdictional authority over the administration of estates and related matters, as well as over those questions mentioned in this Act. The Judge would also be the accounting officer and general agent for the County and discharge all the duties stipulated by the Act in this respect. County Court Clerk would continue to be the clerk of the court but the circuit court clerk would keep the dockets. The Judge was not precluded from the practice of law except in the court over which he presided. This Act was short lived, being repealed by the one below.
2. Acts of 1857-58, Chapter 5, Page 3, repealed Acts of 1856, Chapter 253, above, and restored both the Quorum Courts and the County Chairman to their former status.
3. Acts of 1885, Chapter 105, Page 201, created the office of County Judge in Jefferson County who would be elected for a term of eight years at the same time as other county officials, and who would be sworn into office and commissioned as were other Judges, and be bonded in the amount of $20,000. Quorum Courts were abolished and the duties of that court given to the County Judge who would continue to convene it and preside over it on the first Monday in each month. The jurisdiction of the court was specifically enumerated and the Judge would also be the Financial Agent for the County exercising the responsibilities set up in this Act. The Judge was allowed to practice law in any court but his own. His salary would be $500 per year plus any supplement granted to him by the Quarterly Court. This Act was repealed by the one following.
4. Acts of 1893, Chapter 167, Page 337, expressly repealed Acts of 1885, Chapter 105, and abolished the office of county judge. The office of chairman was specifically provided in this Act who would be clothed with all the power and jurisdiction formerly conferred upon the County Judge and that office. The Judge would serve until the first Monday in October, 1894, when the members of the Jefferson County Quarterly Court would proceed to elect a chairman to replace him.