Four local attorneys apply for Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals open seat

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

photo Boyd Patterson

A local prosecutor, juvenile court magistrate and two private attorneys are among 15 applicants for the open state appeals court seat of Judge Joseph Tipton, who will not seek re-election next year.

Assistant District Attorney Boyd Patterson, Juvenile Court Magistrate Troy McDougal, Chattanooga-based private attorney Donald Marty Lasley and Cleveland, Tenn.-based private attorney William Jackson Brown were the four local names on a release from the Supreme Court of Tennessee.

Patterson served recently as the head of Chattanooga's Gang Task Force before returning to the Hamilton County District Attorney's Office. McDougal applied for the Hamilton County Juvenile Court Judge vacancy earlier this year with the retirement of Judge Suzanne Bailey, but was not selected.

The Court of Criminal Appeals was created in 1967 to hear appeals of felony, misdemeanor and post-conviction cases. There are nine members of the court, which sits in panels at three locations - Jackson, Knoxville and Nashville.

The appellate judges are elected on a "retain-replace" ballot every eight years. The next election is in August 2014.

The Judicial Nominating Commission will select candidates by June 30, 2013 for Gov. Bill Haslam to select for the post.

Tipton's open seat is for the Eastern Tennessee Grand Division. The remaining applicants are from Knoxville, Clinton, Church Hill, Blountville, Greenville and Johnson City.