Van Irion of Madisonville, Tn., has announced that he will be seeking the 10th District's Criminal Court Judge position. The 10th Judicial district comprises Bradley, McMinn, Monroe and Polk counties. Mr. Irion ran for Tennessee's 3rd Congressional District in 2010 in an open Republican primary which includes two of the four counties in the 10th Judicial District. Mr. Irion is basing his judicial campaign on the core values of rule of law, integrity and impartiality.
Attorney Irion has appeared three times on FoxNews as a constitutional expert.
Mr. Irion is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force who went on to become a biochemist and medical researcher while volunteering for his community as a firefighter and emergency medical technician. His deep commitment to the rule of law and U.S. Constitution led him to pursue a law degree at the University of the Pacific where he graduated with honors. Since that time he has served as a transactional attorney at the University of Tennessee, operated a private patent and general law practice, as well as founded a non-profit organization whose mission was to uphold Constitutional principles in the courts.
As lead attorney, Mr. Irion has litigated jury trials and bench trials in both state and federal courts. Attorney Irion has litigated several cases to the United States Supreme Court. He has handled criminal and civil cases in Tennessee’s Family courts, Juvenile courts, Sessions courts, Circuit courts, Chancery courts, Criminal Court of Appeals and Civil Court of Appeals. He has also practiced before the Tennessee and Georgia State Supreme Courts, the 6th and 9th U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals, and U.S. District Courts in Tennessee, Virginia, Texas, Arizona, and California. He has handled arbitrations, mediations, bankruptcy challenges, and administrative court matters.
For several years Mr. Irion served as a transactions attorney for the University of Tennessee Research Foundation where he managed the university’s patent portfolio. Van drafted and executed intellectual property licensing agreements and negotiated multi-million dollar contracts for the university. He taught the next generation of lawyers while serving as an adjunct professor at the University of Tennessee School of Law.
Mr. Irion said, "I am deeply committed to the rule of law. As an experienced attorney I have always maintained a commitment to fairness for all participants. As Criminal Court Judge I will uphold the Tennessee and United States Constitutions fairly and impartially, treating all participants in the court process with dignity and respect. With your support, I hope to serve all of you as Criminal Court Judge for the Tenth Judicial District of Tennessee."
Mr. Irion lives with his wife, Dawn and their two daughters on their farm in Monroe County where they enjoy raising Great Pyrenees dogs, cattle, chickens, ducks, and turkeys.