The judicial commissioner’s position left vacant by the recent resignation of Taft Hendrixson was filled Monday night.

At the March meeting of the county commission, Former Smithville Police Chief Richard Jennings was appointed to take over form Hendrixson, who resigned for health reasons. The former chief was one of 16 to apply for the job, and was recommended by the county's judicial committee to fill the spot.

The judicial committee consists of the Sheriff, General Sessions/Juvenile Court Judge, Circuit Court Clerk, County Mayor, and a representative of the District Attorney General's Office.

All 13 current members of the commission voted to accept the recommendation of the committee to hire Jennings. The newest judicial commissioner joins James Harvey Barnes and Tammy Ashburn in the job. Barnes, Ashburn and Hendrixson were appointed to one-year terms by the county commission in September.

Other applicants for the job included Kelly Myers, Chelsie Bryant, James Newsom, Boyd Bruce Malone, Mark Violet, Kassy Kelly Swisher, Brian Reed, Timothy Perricone, Richard Mielke, III, Mark Steff, Joey Crabtree, Sandy Brown, Bennett Armstrong, Danny Cowan and Kenneth Taylor.

Judicial commissioners are responsible for issuing arrest and search warrants upon a finding of probable cause, issuing mittimus following compliance with lawful procedures, setting and approving bonds and the release on recognizance of defendants and issuance of injunctions and other appropriate orders in cases of alleged domestic violence.