We’ve tried this once before. “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again” is a well-known phrase.

Judge Kenneth M. Switzer

I thought, where did that phrase originate? It’s amazing how a search of this phrase is attributed to different people: Robert the Bruce, king of Scotland in 1314 (picture Mel Gibson in "Braveheart"); Edward Hickson, 19th-century poet; Thomas Palmer, an American educator; Benjamin Franklin, Abraham Lincoln, Shakespeare and maybe Joe Biden?

Anyway, we’re going to try again to restore some normalcy to the world and implement optional in-person settlement hearings beginning the week of Jan. 10, 2022. At that point, it will be 22 months since we discontinued in-person settlement approvals due to the pandemic.

You might recall that we intended to start up again in September 2021, but the COVID variant thwarted that effort. Seemingly, or so I am told, we have outlasted that. So, here we go again with this new effort.

Below, you will see links to the various court locations that will inform you of their processes for in-person settlements. Read them carefully as to how to get on the in-person docket.

I’m sure there will be a few bumps in the road, but we will survive. Patience is a virtue.

Note: Presently, in-person approvals will be optional. Let me say that again: In-person settlement approvals will be optional. We’ll still have phone approvals on designated days. Rread the court links carefully, please.

Now a special note for Cookeville and Murfreesboro: Judge Durham will be using the old Putnam County Courthouse for his in-person settlements and hearings. Judge Tipps in Murfreesboro is presently without a courtroom due to ongoing renovations. He will continue to do settlement approvals by phone only until those renovations are complete. We’ll let you know when that changes.

Follow these links for information on in-person procedures:

• Chattanooga
• Cookeville
• Gray
• Jackson
• Knoxville
• Memphis
• Murfreesboro
• Nashville

It will be great to see you again.

Kenneth M. Switzer is chief judge in the Tennessee Court of Workers' Compensation Claims, Nashville. This entry is republished with permission from the court's blog.