Judge says Tim Gobble 'overstepped boundaries' in discipline of East Ridge clerks

photo Tim Gobble
Arkansas-Ole Miss Live Blog

A special judge has determined that East Ridge City Manager Tim Gobble "overstepped his bounds" when he disciplined several court clerks for their handling of a case in which his daughter was the victim.

Judge Kevin Wilson, who typically acts as city judge for Collegedale, initially heard complaints about Gobble's behavior while hearing a burglary case in September.

During that case, attorneys Cris Helton and Chris Dixon complained that Gobble's disciplinary action against the clerk's office this month raised questions about administrative interference in the courts.

Wilson filed his finding in the complaint today.

"Some of [Gobble's] remarks reflect a mixing of his concern as a parent with his duties of city manager," Wilson writes. "While this is understandable on one hand, it certainly does not reflect well on the appearance of separation between the City Manager's duties as an independent and neutral officer."

Despite the criticisms of Gobble's actions, Wilson chose not to dismiss the burglary charges against Helton and Dixon's client.

For more information, read Saturday's Times Free Press.

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