The Chattanooga Bar Association and the Chattanooga Times Free Press will sponsor a forum for candidates running for General Sessions Court judge, Division 5, at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at UTC.

"Our goal is to make this forum a positive experience for the judicial candidates and provide them the opportunity to share their professional experience," said Lynda M. Hood, executive director of the bar association.

"Electing a judge is an important responsibility for voters. We want to give voters a chance to learn as much as they can about the candidates before they head to the polls," she said.

Seven attorneys are campaigning for the seat held by the late Bob Moon, who died in January. Moon had served on the General Sessions bench since 1996. In March, the Hamilton County Commission appointed David Norton as interim judge.

The candidates are Norton, Joe DeGaetano, Valerie Epstein, Yolanda Mitchell, Ron Powers, Gary Starnes and Patricia Best Vital.

The winner of the Aug. 2 election will serve until 2014.