Democrat Stuart James out of Hamilton County Circuit Court judge race

photo Stuart James

Stuart James, the only Democrat who'd qualified to run for an open seat in Hamilton County Circuit Court, has dropped out of the race.

James contacted the Chattanooga Times Free Press on Friday and posted on his Facebook page a message announcing that he was leaving the race.

"I have made the decision to permanently suspend my campaign for Circuit Court judge. I have discussed this with the Democratic Party chair and my campaign manager. The reasons are many, just suffice it to say as a political realist I know the odds are against winning a race that has little public interest," James wrote.

He faced the winner of the May 6 primary contest between Catherine White and J.B. Bennett, both Republicans.

The judgeship was opened when incumbent Judge Jacqueline Bolton announced in September she would not seek re-election and had decided to retire after 15 years on the bench.

The winner of the May primary between Bennett and White will likely be the next Circuit Court judge for Division I.

The court has four divisions and hears civil lawsuits involving such areas as divorce, personal injury, worker's compensation and others.

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