Judge Herschel P. Franks of Signal Mountain has announced that he is retiring effective Dec. 31.
Judge Franks served as a Hamilton County chancellor prior to being named to the Tennessee Court of Appeals.
The Judicial Nominating Commission is now accepting applications for the Court of Appeals vacancy in the Eastern Division.
Interested applicants must be an attorney who is at least 30 years of age, a resident of the state for five years, a resident of their circuit or district for one year, and must reside in the East Tennessee grand division. Applicants must complete the designated application, which is available at www.tncourts.gov, and submit it to the Administrative Office of the Courts by Monday, Oct. 22, at 12 p.m. CDT.
The Judicial Nominating Commission will set a date to interview all qualified applicants. The meeting will also include a public hearing where members of the public may express their opinions about the applicants. The interview, public hearing and deliberation process will be open to the public.
Following the interviews, public hearing and deliberations, the Judicial Nominating Commission will select three candidates to recommend to the governor.