Court Programs Volunteer Programs Juvenile Court Judge Magistrates

Juvenile Court

Juvenile Court Programs

Youth Court & Recovery Court (PDF Format)

Mediation Referral Program (PDF Format)

Child Support Programs

Volunteer Programs

Court Appointed Special Advocate

A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer is a specially trained citizen who represents the best interests of a child in every stage of Juvenile Court proceedings. A CASA offers an unbiased view of the family’s situation as well as a voice for the child in the courtroom.

Upon request of the Judge or Magistrate, the CASA may conduct an independent assessment of the facts and issues of an assigned case from the perspective of a neutral third party. This is accomplished by making field visits (e.g. home, school, etc.) and obtaining information from a variety of sources: parents, relatives, teachers, etc.

Foster Care Review Board

The Foster Care Review Board of Hamilton County Juvenile Court is comprised of screened and trained community volunteers who have been appointed by the Juvenile Court Judge to review cases of children placed in foster care. The Board’s primary goal is to protect these children from needless and prolonged out-of-home placements.

The Foster Care Review Board examines each child’s case 90 days after the initial placement in foster care and at a minimum of every 6 months thereafter. During each review, the Board evaluates issues such as the safety and well-being of the child and the extent of progress in achieving the goals listed in the permanency plan.

Juvenile Court Magistrates

Magistrate Cynthia LeCroy-Schemel
Magistrate Russell Anne Swafford
Magistrate Troy McDougal
Magistrate Chris Gott

Child Support Magistrates

Magistrate Kathy Clark
Magistrate Autry Jones
Magistrate Marsha Smith

Robert D. Philyaw

Contact Information

Juvenile Court Judge Office (Hours: 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.
Except for these holidays).

Phone Number: 423-209-5107

Email Me

Judge Philyaw is a former Adjunct Professor at the Fogelman College of Business and Economics at The University of Memphis and is often a guest lecturer at several local colleges and universities, and speaks often at schools, churches, community meetings, and pretty much anywhere he’s invited to talk about Juvenile Court or ways to make the lives of children better.

During his tenure as Hamilton County Juvenile Court Judge, Rob Philyaw has implemented special programs to assist families, facilitate equal access to justice as well as connecting at-risk juveniles to community based services. Some of those programs are the Child Support Clinics, Mediation Referral Program, ShoCap, Truancy Task Force, Youth Court and Recovery Court.]]>

With seven full-time courtrooms, Hamilton County Juvenile Court hears cases involving the Department of Children’s Services and several other categories of cases. With some operations requiring around the clock personnel, the Court employs almost 100 dedicated professionals and relies heavily on volunteers and support agencies who work to make the lives of children in Hamilton County better.