Judge Williams Denies Is Handpicking Successor

  • Friday, April 11, 2003
Judge Walter Williams said he is not trying to handpick who will replace him. Click to enlarge.
Judge Walter Williams said he is not trying to handpick who will replace him. Click to enlarge.

Retiring City Court Judge Walter Williams today denied he is handpicking who will be the next judge.

"I am not trying to pick my successor," Judge Williams said.

He responded to an opinion letter by attorney Mitchell Byrd, who said Judge Williams is engineering the appointment of Chantelle Roberson as the next city judge.

Judge Williams said he has never publicly said who he favors to be the next judge.

He said he was asked his choice by Mayor Bob Corker and by several City Council members, and he said he gave it to them.

Judge Williams said he had nothing to do with Mayor Corker setting up a 5-member panel to recommend the new judge. He said he found out about it after it had already been formed.

"I don't necessarily think you need a committee, but that's the mayor's decision," he said.

He denied he had been badmouthing other candidates to black ministerial groups, saying he had not gone to a luncheon of the ministers for six to seven months.

Judge Williams said he has spoken "about playing games with residency. I spoke directly to the individual, who came to my office."

John Millican, an assistant district attorney who is a candidate, has moved just outside the city line in East Brainerd.

Judge Williams said the job of city judge "is not as easy as some might think. It involves dealing with people and dealing with the community."

He said of criticism of his role in the judge choice, "I know who is behind all this. They will self-destruct."

He also said, "Everybody knows that Mitchell Byrd's elevator does not go to the top floor."

Attorney Byrd replied, "I am somewhat surprised that somebody has not recognized before now that Emperor Williams wears no clothes."

Concerning his background and the elevator comment, attorney Byrd listed this resume:

MITCHELL A. BYRD, ESQUIRE

FORMAL EDUCATION

Cecil Humphreys School of Law - Memphis State University, Memphis, Tennessee, 1973-76; Doctorate of Jurisprudence 1976.

University of Tennessee at Knoxville;
Bachelor of Arts 1973.

LEGAL EXPERIENCE

1995 to Present - Tennessee Mediation Group, Inc. Mediator.

1990 to Present - Sole Practitioner. Maintains a general practice, with concentration on personal injury, probate, criminal and domestic relations litigation, including conservatorships and guardianships.

1986 to 1990 - Partner, Harrison & Byrd, Chattanooga, Tennessee. The law firm is a general practice, with concentration on personal injury, probate, criminal, domestic relations, litigation, including conservatorships and guardianships.

March 1981 to 1986 - Partner, Harrison, Bonnington & Byrd, Chattanooga, Tennessee.

October 1976 to March 1981 - Associate, Wild & Harrison, Chattanooga, Tennessee, a general practice law firm concentrating on personal injury and criminal defense litigation.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Faculty, Private Dispute Resolution Services, Family Mediation Training, 1999 - Present

Adjunct Professor, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Department of Social and Community Services, 1994 - 1995

Guest lecturer, The Orton Dyslexia Society, Spring Conference, 1993. Audio tape "Rights of Students - Practical Legal Advice" available.

Guest lecturer, Tennessee Donor Services of Chattanooga, Advance Directives, Organ Donation and the Living Will, 1991 - present.

Tennessee Trial Lawyers, Head Injury Seminar, 1990.

Chattanooga Bar Association, Domestic Relations, 1990.

Seminar Faculty, Tennessee Divorce Practice Professional Education Systems, Inc., 1988, 1991, 1993.

Guest lecturer, Tennessee District Attorney General's Conference, 1987.

Tennessee Trial Lawyers, Domestic Relations, 1987.

Guest lecturer, Annual In-Service Training, Signal Mountain Police Department, 1987.

Tennessee Trial Lawyers Board of Directors, 1986-1991, 1992 - 1996.

Guest lecturer, Chattanooga Police Academy, 1986 through present.

Guest lecturer, Chattanooga Police Department/Hamilton County Sheriff's Department/Federal Bureau of Investigation Training Seminar, 1985.

Guest lecturer, Edmondson College, Chattanooga, Tennessee, Business Law.

Guest lecturer, Hospice of Chattanooga, Wills, Estates, and Trusts.

JUDICIAL EXPERIENCE

Special Judge, Circuit Court of Hamilton County, Division I.

Special Judge, Chancery Court of Hamilton County, Part I.

Special Judge, General Sessions Court of Hamilton County, Civil and Criminal.

Special Judge, City Court of Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Special Judge, City Court of Red Bank, Tennessee.

Special Judge, City Court of Signal Mountain, Tennessee.

Administrative Law Judge, Tennessee State Board of Education, 1986 - 1991.

ELECTED OFFICES

Fire & Police Commissioner, Signal Mountain, Tennessee, 1987 - 1991.

SPECIAL APPOINTMENTS

Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association, Board of Governors, present

Tennessee Bar Association Family Code Commission, 1991 - present

Hamilton County Divorce Education and Mediation Pilot Project, Steering Committee, 1998.

Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association, Vice Chairman, 1993 - present.

Tennessee Bar Association, Family Law Section, Arbitration and Mediation Committee, 1993 - present.

Tennessee Donor Services of Chattanooga, Advisory Board, 1992 - 1996.

Tennessee Bar Association, Divorce Code Commission, 1991 - present.

Association of Trial Lawyers, Membership Committee, 1990.

Tennessee Supreme Court Child Support Guidelines Commission, 1989 to present.

Chattanooga National Medal of Honor History Museum, Board of Directors, 1994.

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

American Trial Lawyers Association, 1976 to present.

Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association, 1976 to present. Board of Directors, 1986 to present. Family Law Section - Chair, 1994, 1995.

Chattanooga Trial Lawyers Association, 1976 to present. President 1998, 1986- 87; Vice President 1985-86; Secretary 1984-85; Treasurer 1983-84; Board of Directors, 1983-88.

American Bar Association, 1976 to present. Litigation, Law Practice Management and Family Law Sections.

Tennessee Bar Association, 1976 to present. Charter Member of Family Law Section, 1986. Chairman, Child Support Guidelines Committee 1987-88, 1988-
89. Secretary 1990-91, Chair Elect, Family Law Section, 1992.

Chattanooga Bar Association, 1976 to present. Chairman, Family Law Section 1989.

Advisory Board, Chattanooga Legal Secretaries Association, 1986 - 1987.

Hamilton County Law Library Committee, 1986 - 1990.

Charter Member, Advisory Council on Traffic Safety, 1985 - present.

Charter Member, Historical Society for U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee.

Christian Education Association, 1995 - present.

Breaking News
Latest Hamilton County Arrest Report
  • 3/28/2024

Here is the latest Hamilton County arrest report: ADERHOLT, FELICIA DAWN 1110 ST CLAIR ST DUNLAP, 37327 Age at Arrest: 37 years old Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff Booked for Previous ... more

Signal Mountain Must Determine How To Use Remainder Of ARPA Funds
  • 3/27/2024

The town of Signal Mountain has $358,637 remaining from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds it received and there must be a plan in place by the end of the year for how the money will be ... more

Chattanooga Man Gets 21-Year Sentence For Fentanyl Death Of 19-Year-Old
Chattanooga Man Gets 21-Year Sentence For Fentanyl Death Of 19-Year-Old
  • 3/27/2024

A 25-year-old Chattanooga man, was sentenced to 21 years in federal prison for supplying drugs that led to the death of 19-year-old Charlotte Gallant. Jonathan Bash appeared before Judge Curtis ... more