The governor's office has asked for additional names as choices to replace Rebecca Stern as Criminal Court judge.
A judicial appointment panel earlier submitted three names to Governor Bill Haslam and he personally interviewed all three at the first of the month. An appointment had been expected soon afterward, but none was forthcoming.
The initial choices were Leslie Longshore, Mike Little and Boyd Patterson.
Judge Paul Summers is now handling the cases in that division.
The governor's office has now issued this notice:
Pursuant to the State of Tennessee Executive Order 41, notice is hereby given that the Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments will soon meet again in Hamilton County to interview additional applicants to fill the vacancy in the District’s Criminal Court. Pursuant to Section 5b of Executive Order 41, Governor Haslam has elected to receive a second panel of three additional nominees for consideration. The position was created by the retirement of the Honorable Rebecca J. Stern on May 31, 2015
All interested persons, including those previously interviewed by the Council on April 9, 2015 and whose names were not sent to the Governor for consideration, must submit an application to be considered.
Any member of the public, both lay or attorney, shall be entitled to attend the public hearing to express, orally or in writing, such citizen's objections to any suggested nominee for the judicial vacancy.
Any interested applicant must be an attorney licensed in Tennessee who is at least 30 years of age, a resident of the state for five years, and must reside in the Judicial District. All interested candidates should submit a completed Applicant Questionnaire, available on our website at www.tncourts.gov, to the Council for its consideration. Questionnaires should be submitted to the Administrative Office of the Courts, Suite 600, Nashville City Center, 511 Union Street, Nashville, TN 37219, by no later than July 6, 2015 at Noon EDT. The Council encourages all candidates to submit applications as early as possible.
Each candidate must submit the original (unbound) as well as a digital copy of the Applicant Questionnaire in order to have his/her name placed on the list of candidates for the judicial vacancy for which he/she is applying.
The Council is committed to the goal of a diverse judiciary and encourages all qualified attorneys to apply for any judicial vacancy for consideration without regard to race, ethnicity or gender.
If you require an accommodation and/or have special needs because of a qualified disability, have questions, or need additional information, please contact Debra Hayes at the Administrative Office of the Courts at 615-741-2687.
This the 18th day of June, 2015.