Judge Hunt returns, temp judge Elrod reflects

Judge Brian Hunt is back at Anderson County Juvenile Court after his U.S. Army deployment in Djibouti.

He served as an international and operational law officer for the Africa Civil Affairs Battalion.

His post was at Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Horn of Africa. The deployment started last August.

Timothy Elrod filled in for him during that time, after the County Commission appointed him last July 17.

The commission honored Elrod for his brief time as juvenile court judge by making May 25 Timothy Grant Elrod Day in a resolution Circuit Court Clerk Rex Lynch read at the May 20 County Commission meeting. The resolution honored his “dedication, commitment and loyalty to Anderson County.”

“For the last time, I’d like to say, all rise for the honorable Tim Elrod,” Lynch said as the commissioners and audience stood. Lynch complimented him on serving a “fully loaded juvenile court docket” in addition to his work as a managing partner of OEB Law and commitment to his family and philanthropic causes.

“We honor this great man who selflessly stepped up and helped his home community in a time of need,” Lynch said.

Elrod reflected on his time as juvenile court judge.

“We don’t like to see children in juvenile court, but when they do come in, the kids and their parents now know that our court cares and that our commission also cares. So keep those things in mind as you go forward. Hug and love your kid because not a lot of people can do that,” he said. “At heart, I’m an Anderson County boy born and raised. And I know as well as you know that our children are our future. And without our children we won’t have a great county.

“I couldn’t have done it without the good Lord up above, first and foremost,” he said.

He also thanked his family and the County Commission. He encouraged others to ask the commission about open positions.