I strongly support Joe Manuel for chancellor.
As a businessman, I understand that Chancery Court deals with a lot of complex business and financial issues. Also, within the last two weeks, we have seen the School Board announce that it would sue the city of Chattanooga in Chancery Court and retired firemen and police officers have already filed a lawsuit against the city of Chattanooga Fire and Police Pension Fund in Chancery Court. These are issues that will affect many people throughout our county. And, the chancellor must be someone who has broad experience to deal with such matters.
Joe’s career includes 35 years as a trial lawyer in a broad range of cases; an active mediator (helping settle cases) for more than 20 years; and an arbitrator (private judge) for 20 years. He writes internet based law courses and even created a legal “app” for the iPhone in 2011. No other candidate can come close to matching this experience and knowledge. In fact, his qualifications have already been recognized by the Judicial Nomination Commission in 2010 when it found him qualified to serve as chancellor.
I have personally known Joe for many years and we can trust him to be fair and even-handed in his treatment of everyone who comes before him.
I am voting for Joe Manuel and I hope you will join me.
Bill Pinson
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I strongly endorse Joe Manuel to be our next chancellor because of the depth and type of experience that he brings to the bench.
Chancery Court is primarily a trial court in which the chancellor is responsible for deciding the outcome of cases, so it is critical that our next chancellor have knowledge and experience gained from spending years trying the kinds of cases that a chancellor is asked to decide.
Consider the Hamilton County School Board and Fire and Police Pension Fund cases, both recently filed in Chancery Court. These kinds of critically important cases need to be decided by a chancellor of Joe’s skill, knowledge, background and experience.
Joe has tried numerous difficult, complex lawsuits during a distinguished 35-year career. He is certified by the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Education and Specialization as a civil trial specialist, he has served as an American Arbitration Association arbitrator since 1992 and he has 20 years of experience serving as a mediator. Joe has even served as a trainer of other lawyers, teaching them to become mediators.
Joe and I have been great friends since those difficult days in law school when we spent many hours studying together and during many years practicing law here in Chattanooga. Since those law school days I have experienced Joe’s excellent work as a mediator in complex cases I was handling, and as a trial lawyer, both in cases in which we represented opposing clients, and in complex cases I have referred to Joe because of his keen ability to handle even the most difficult matters. Joe has the decision-making ability, knowledge, demeanor and experience to make an excellent chancellor.
My friendship with Joe and my experience with him as a lawyer have enabled me to know Joe so well that I can personally and with great confidence recommend him to be our next chancellor.
Bob Lockaby
Harrison