NASHVILLE -- Republican Gov. Bill Haslam has until Monday to name one of six nominees from two panels to fill a Hamilton County Criminal Court vacancy, but whoever gets the plum post can apparently look forward to a contested GOP primary come March.
Hamilton County Assistant District Attorney Boyd Patterson and Hamilton County Deputy Public Defender Mike Little have picked up qualifying petitions from the Hamilton County Election Commission to run in the March 1 GOP primary election for the judgeship.
Both attorneys are on the first three-person panel of nominees forwarded to Haslam in May by Haslam's Council for Judicial Appointments. Offering no explanation to the screening council, Haslam back in June asked for a second, three-member slate.
And so, after interviewing a new set of applicants, the council on July 23 offered up a second, three-person panel to the governor.
Under Haslam's executive order establishing the appointment process, he has 60 days to decide whom he will appoint from the two panels. The deadline is Monday.
Hamilton County Assistant District Attorney Boyd Patterson
Hamilton County Deputy Public Defender Mike LittleLittle, who did not return a reporter's telephone call on Tuesday, picked up his qualifying petition to run for the judgeship last Friday. Patterson picked up his on Monday. To run, they would have to return their petitions with the requisite number of registered voters.
But Patterson, who for 18 months led Chattanooga's anti-gang task force, sounds very much like a candidate. He said a Criminal Court judge has "an incredible role regarding public safety. One third of the felonies in Hamilton County go through that position.
"If I were fortunate enough to be in that position," Patterson added, "I would definitely utilize two aspects" of his experience. "One, working with victims and their issues. And two, the optimism that comes with the experience of working with people who turn their lives around and who are willing to take responsibility for doing that."
The third member of the first panel is Assistant District Attorney Leslie Longshore. Members of the second panel are attorneys Amanda B. Dunn of Chattanooga, Thomas Greenholtz of Ooltewah and Stevie Nicole Phillips of Chattanooga.
According to Hamilton County Election Administrator Kerry Steelman, the GOP primary election is March 1. The general election is Aug. 4.
There's been furious speculation in Chattanooga's legal community over how things got to this point on the vacancy, created by then-Criminal Court Judge Rebecca Stern, who unexpectedly announced she would retire just months after her reelection.
And some believe Haslam could simply decide not to fill the vacancy. But under provisions of his own executive order, the governor "shall" name someone.
The language reads: "The Council shall submit the second panel within forty-five days after the Governor requests the panel.
Within sixty days following receipt of the second panel of nominees, the Governor shall fill the trial or appellate court vacancy by appointing any one (1) of the six (6) nominees certified by the Council."
Asked about that, Haslam spokesman David Smith said "the Executive Order requires him to name someone from either the first or second panel."
Contact staff writer Andy Sher at asher@timesfreepress.com or 615-255-0550.