Dempsey ready for new duty

By Staff
Melissa Dozier-Cason, FCT Writer
Circuit Judge Elect Terry Dempsey will be sworn into office today at 2 p.m. at the courtroom at the county courthouse, but will not officially take the bench until Tuesday morning.
Dempsey defeated incumbent Judge Sharon Hindman Hester in the June primary and there was no Republican opposition for the seat.
Dempsey graduated from Belgreen High School and received his law degree from the University of Alabama Law School.
He then returned to Franklin County to open a general law practice with David Lowery.
Dempsey said that his main goal in office is to see cases in a timely and efficient fashion and to treat everyone with respect, regardless of background.
"Judges aren't like legislature members who have goals for each term," Dempsey said. "My job will be to oversee cases, apply law and deliver justice according to that law."
The circuit court oversees all jury trials, all domestic cases – such as divorce and custody of minor children as a result of the divorce – all felony criminal cases and civil cases where the amount in question is greater than $10,000.
While aspects of the circuit court is important, Dempsey said he feels the domestic docket is extremely important because those cases usually involve children.
"Children are the most important resource we have in our community," Dempsey said.
Teresa Seal has been hired as Dempsey's judicial assistant for his term in office, which is a six-year-term that will begin Tuesday morning.