A Hamilton County judge who declared medical disability earlier this year wants to return to the bench, possibly as early as next week.
“I am happy to inform you that I successfully underwent cancer surgery on July 25,” David Bales wrote Oct. 27 in a letter to Gov. Bill Haslam. “After treatments and rehab, I have completely recovered and no longer suffer a disability that would prevent me from serving my duties.”
Bales attached letters from two doctors who treated him and said he planned to return Monday to his judgeship in General Sessions Court. But Haslam replied that he cannot reinstate Bales.
“State law provides no role for me in the special judge process beyond appointing and commissioning a special judge to attend and hold court,” Haslam wrote on Nov. 2, adding he would notify Alex McVeagh, the special judge he selected in April.
Bales declared medical disability in March after a six-month battle with cancer and chemotherapy and told Haslam he planned to return to work once his health improved. But according to state law, McVeagh is supposed to serve until the chief justice of Tennessee’s Supreme Court tells Haslam that Bales is no longer disabled.