In Shelby County, it’s not unheard of for people to miss court dates because they’re in the hospital.
But Leibson can’t imagine doing away with it, because it multiplied the number of tenants who appear in court and things work out better for tenants who attend. The court’s use of the technology started as a coronavirus precaution. Leibson said landlords and tenants are also both fans of participating in court by using Zoom. For landlords, it means they often don’t have to get the sheriff’s office involved - saving them time and money. Click here to find more information about applying, or call 211.įor tenants, this deal keeps evictions off of their records. Shelby County accepts new applications for Emergency Rental Assistance during the first two weeks of the month, except from people who are imminently facing eviction. “I think it’s the best of both worlds.”įor cases when tenants don’t qualify for rental assistance or landlords don’t accept it, Leibson created a compromise: Tenants promise to move out before the first day landlords would be allowed to forcibly enter their home and if they do, the landlords commit to dismissing the eviction. The tenants don’t get evicted,” Leibson said. These referrals, Leibson said, greatly aid tenants and usually help landlords get more money than they would otherwise, since it’s difficult to collect back rent from people living paycheck to paycheck. If not, the program gives the money directly to tenants, to help them find their next rental. If landlords are willing to accept the funds, the program sends them a check and the tenant remains in their home. But Leibson thinks about her role differently for instance, she is open with landlords’ lawyers about her desire to avoid evictions whenever possible within the confines of the law.Īfter reading MLK50’s article about Shelby County’s judges, Leibson said she doesn’t understand why judges wouldn’t refer tenants to the Emergency Rental Assistance program, which covers up to 12 months of past-due rent and two months of future rent. Shelby County judges who handle evictions spoke about the need to balance impartiality with compassion while in court. In Shelby County, the judges who handle evictions - and are all up for re-election to eight-year terms Thursday - vary on whether or not they refer tenants to the Emergency Rental Assistance program and the degree to which they explain what happens in court.
“They are stretching (the law) as much as they can.”
“(Our judges) have really bent over backward to help these tenants,” Harris said. Leibson forces landlords to prove tenants are still living on the property, allows tenants to attend court using Zoom, calls tenants who don’t show up to court, recommends the federal Emergency Rental Assistance program to tenants, pushes landlords to accept rental assistance and initiates compromises that keep evictions off of people’s records.Īnd the other Louisville judge who handles evictions operates similarly, according to Marilyn Harris, director of the Louisville Metro Office of Housing and Community Development. MLK50: Justice Through Journalism observed Leibson run her courtroom - through Zoom - and interviewed her after seeing the stark differences in how Shelby County’s six General Sessions Civil Court judges handle eviction cases.ĭespite operating under state laws similarly landlord-friendly, Leibson takes steps to assist tenants that even the more helpful local judges never take.