The new chairman of the state Judicial Nominating Commission has resigned after picking up a recent DUI charge.
The Elizabethton Star said David Bautista, 70, was also charged with violation of the Implied Consent Law after an Elizabethton officer saw him driving the wrong way on a street, causing cars to swerve to miss his vehicle.
The officer said the former district public defender was stopped at a gas station. The officer said he appeared to be under the influence of alcohol and that he failed field sobriety tests.
Bautista cited "a myriad of other commitments" as the reason he was stepping down effective immediately
The Administrative Office of the Courts is now accepting applications for the vacancy created by the resignation of Chairman Bautista. Commission Vice Chairman Bill Young will temporarily assume the chairman duties.
Speaker Kent Williams, who appointed Bautista, will select an applicant to fill the vacancy on the commission.
Once appointed, the new commissioner will serve out the remainder of Bautista’s term on the commission, which expires on June 30, 2015.
Applicants for the seat on the Commission must be at least 30-years-old, live in the Eastern Grand Division of Tennessee, and have lived in the state for at least five years. Anyone who wishes to be considered for the Judicial Nominating Commission must complete an application, which can be found online at www.tncourts.gov.
All applications must be received by the Administrative Office of the Courts by Thursday, Feb. 10, at 4:30 p.m. central standard time.
Once applications have been received by the Administrative Office of the Courts, information about each applicant will be posted online at www.tncourts.gov. The public will have the opportunity to comment on the applicants for the commission for a period of 14 days. Once public comments have been received, Speaker Williams will have 14 days to appoint a member to the commission.