Cleveland city judge to be appointed Monday

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CLEVELAND, Tenn. - Two candidates want to be Cleveland's next city judge: attorneys Andrew Morgan and Barrett Painter.

On Monday, the Cleveland City Council will vote to appoint one of them to preside over municipal court. City judge appointments have two-year terms.

"Both are highly qualified," Cleveland Mayor Tom Rowland said. "The City Council will have a tough decision to select either one for the city."

Morgan is an associate at the law firm of Richard Banks and a member of the Cleveland City Council. His practice focuses on business and consumer bankruptcy.

"I am interested in community service, and I want to take it to the next level," he said.

Painter, a partner in the law firm of Chancey, Kanavos, Love & Painter, practices in the areas of family and domestic law and Social Security disability. He recently lost a Republican primary bid to be a General Sessions judge for Bradley County.

Painter could not be reached Thursday for comment.

Attorney George McCoin is serving as interim city judge, filling the role of Judge Bill Moss, who died July 14.

McCoin said he didn't want a permanent position as municipal judge.

"I accepted the appointment to give the city the opportunity to make a proper selection for the next city judge," he said. "My interim service will give them time to fairly consider the qualified candidates."

McCoin said he hoped to maintain the standards set by Moss during his nearly 40 years of service at municipal court.

"Everyone left his court feeling like they got a fair hearing," he said.

The Cleveland Police Department investigated when Moss was found dead of a gunshot wound in a Fourth Street parking lot between Worth and Broad streets.

His death was ruled as self-inflicted, according to the Bradley County Medical Examiner's Office.

Moss, who had been city judge since 1975, was a "dedicated public servant," Rowland has said.

"Bill was a real people person who gained the respect of everyone who came from his court," he said.

Rowland said the successful candidate for city judge will be sworn in on Sept. 8 at the Museum Center at Five Points.

Paul Leach is based in Cleveland. Email him at paul.leach.press@gmail.com.

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