Until David Norton curtailed his campaign for election to the interim Sessions Court post for undisclosed health reasons, he was seen as the candidate to beat. His March appointment to the job by the County Commission had bestowed the aura of incumbency, and a preference poll by the Chattanooga Bar Association had favored him by a wide margin over some highly qualified opponents. But Norton’s recent health impairment, at age 66, has radically changed that dynamic in recent weeks.
Beyond the fact that the County Commission’s elevation of an assistant county government attorney should not be the criteria for a judicial election — and the prospect in 2014 of an eight-year term — there is now plenty of room, and good reason, for consideration of other candidates.
Most of the other six candidates for the Sessions Court vacancy are well qualified and perfectly able to step into the job. Chief among these are Gary Starnes, Joe DeGaetano, Ron Powers and Valerie Epstein. All possess solid legal credentials for the position in terms of experience, breadth of legal practice, professional and educational attainment, judicial temperament and civic involvement. Each would make a fine judge.
Beyond these core criteria, Starnes stands out for his ready and insightful interest in ways to improve the general operations of Sessions Courts. First and foremost, we believe Starnes would be a good and efficient judge in his own courtroom. He possesses deep background in both criminal and civil practice, and he is held in high regard by the legal community. He also is an uniquely strong proponent of introducing computer technology for case-file management to the larger Sessions Court system, among other reforms, and that sets him apart.
Sessions Courts need such attention. There are five Sessions Courts, and the judges in each rotate duties: three conduct criminal court each week, and one presides over a civil court, regularly leaving one of the five to handle scant miscellaneous duties. Lax leadership, outdated management and an inefficient, paper-based case-file system have long resulted in Sessions Courts and judges known to work short days, close early and leave a mounting backlog.