This letter is in reference to a posted interview with the chair of the Democratic Party and candidate Aaliyah Hakeem who is running for Criminal Court clerk. While Ms. Hakeem did make some incorrect statements, I do not want this letter to point out negatives. I want, instead, to make it positive.

Ms. Hakeem used a phrase that has become popular in this day and age - “for the people.” That made me smile because that has become an unofficial slogan of the Payment Center for Criminal and Sessions Courts, an office that Vince Dean visualized “for the people.” Vince did not want people to have to hop from office to office to take care of their business for Hamilton County Criminal and Sessions Courts.

He wanted it as close to a one stop shop as he could get. Our Payment Center provides that. We help with everything from payments driver’s licenses. Vince’s hope is to eventually expand our Payment Center to include our court’s Expungement Center, again adding to the “one stop shop” idea.

Ms. Hakeem also mentioned the system being hard to navigate. Our employees adapted another saying - “You have questions, we have answers.” If we do not immediately know the answer, we will dig until we find it, even on topics that do not always fall under our responsibility.

Technology was also a topic for Ms. Hakeem - agreed. Our current in house system is slow, however it has rarely actually “been down.” Vince is very aware of that issue. We are currently working with the State of TN on a statewide system. This will not be a quick fix, but Vince has committed people to assist as much as needed to support the project.

A final item from Ms. Hakeem’s interview that I would like to mention is “compassion for the people.” I reach again to one of our office’s go to statements - “If we don’t help them, who will?” Our goal is to help people satisfy their obligations, whether that is to the county for court or the state with their license. Helping them “get legal” helps them succeed in life and as a citizen. Our office is an example of Vince’s vision for our offices as a whole. He has promoted simplifying and consolidating offices/functions, updating equipment/procedures/policies, and customer service since he took office. He is already doing what needs to be done. There is no need to switch to a new Criminal Court clerk that is willing to learn how to do all that. We already have the real deal.

Julie Ladd
Payment Center director
Hamilton County Criminal Court