Attorney D. Marty Lasley filed qualifying papers Tuesday at the Election Commission and formally announced his candidacy for the vacant Soddy Daisy City Court judge position. The citizens of Soddy Daisy will vote to fill the vacancy on Aug. 2.
Attorney Lasley stated, “I love the law, enjoy people and have known since my days at Soddy Daisy Jr. High that I wanted to be a trial lawyer, and perhaps one day, a judge. In my 25 years as a trial lawyer and public servant, I’ve handled many high profile, complex and high-stakes matters and held up under pressure. I’ve always gotten along well with my colleagues, adversaries and Judges. I’ve handled practically every type of case that may come before a court - argued both sides of most - and represented a diverse client base.
"My background, experience and temperament, tested over the years and under fire, provide me with the foundation, resources and ability to live up to my standards of a judge, and the standards people expect as well--a judge who has the mettle to make tough decisions and one who is empathetic, compassionate, fair and rules in accordance with the law.”
Attorney Lasley grew up in Soddy Daisy and graduated from Soddy Daisy High School in 1979. His Lasley ancestors have resided in the Soddy Daisy/North Hamilton County area for many generations.
He is the son of the Rev. Don Lasley and the late Ilene Harrison Lasley, and the grandson of the late Martin and Pearl Lasley of Soddy Daisy.
He earned a J.D. degree from the Vanderbilt School of Law in 1987. He graduated from Carson-Newman College with a BA in 1982 and attended Trinity Evangelical Divinity School from 1982-1984.
He and his wife, Kelly Albro Lasley, have lived in Soddy Daisy for 24 of their 28 years of marriage. They have two sons. Noah is a sophomore at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and Jonah is a junior at Chattanooga Christian School. All four are members of the Stuart Heights Baptist Church, Soddy Daisy Campus, where the Lasleys lead an adult Sunday School class.
Attorney Lasley has been licensed to practice law in Tennessee since 1987. He began his legal career with the Chattanooga law firm of Brown, Dobson Burnette & Kesler.
In 1990, Mr. Lasley opened his law office in Soddy Daisy where he worked until taking the position of executive administrative assistant to then County Mayor Claude Ramsey in 1996. In 2003, he joined the Chattanooga law firm of Nelson, McMahan & Noblett and became an assistant Chattanooga city attorney.
In 2008, Attorney Lasley was appointed as a Hamilton County Judicial Commissioner/Magistrate by the Hamilton County Commission and served for two years.
He reopened his private law practice in 2010 and he handles criminal and civil cases in all state and federal courts in Tennessee.
Throughout his legal career, Mr. Lasley has tried numerous jury and non-jury cases in municipal, county and state courts all over Southeastern Tennessee.
In addition to his judicial experience as a County Judicial Commissioner/Magistrate, Mr. Lasley has served as a special judge in the Chattanooga City Courts for Judge Russell Bean and Judge Sherry Paty.
His community service includes: Chattanooga Bar Association Law Seminar Instructor; Middle Valley Soccer League Coach; Upward Basketball Coach; Published brochure on Euthanasia for Southern Baptist Convention explaining official position; Pro Bono panel, Inner City Ministries, Christian Legal Society; First Things First, Board of Directors; Front Porch Alliance, Board of Directors, Incorporator; Tennessee Baptist Convention, Executive Board of Directors, Member of the Executive, Budget and Education Committees; Board of Directors, Chattanooga/Hamilton County Bicentennial Library, and; president, Soddy-Daisy Chamber of Commerce.