Court establishes eviction-focused housing court

In an effort to stave off mass evictions, the Davidson County General Sessions Court has transferred nearly 2,000 pending eviction cases to a newly established housing court.

The goal of the new court, helmed by Judge Rachel Bell in partnership with the Metropolitan Action Commission and Circuit Court Clerk Richard Rooker, is to use nearly $21 million in federal rental assistance funds to pay off landlords on behalf of behind tenants at risk of eviction. The Nashville Conflict Resolution Center is providing additional mediation work as part of the project.