A former Hamilton County magistrate’s discrimination trial started back up Monday, as her attorney argued that a former colleague contributed to her demotion and eventual firing in 2014 without solid evidence.
Hamilton County Juvenile Court Administrator Sam Mairs didn’t observe Elizabeth Gentzler in the courtroom, didn’t know how she interacted with lawyers and litigants, and didn’t have other information that would demonstrate whether she was doing a good job as a magistrate, her attorney, Stuart James, argued in Chattanooga’s U.S. District Court.
Juvenile Court Judge Rob Philyaw, left, and Hamilton County Attorney Rheubin Taylor, right, leave the Joel W. Solomon Federal Courthouse during a trial recess on Thursday, March 22, 2018, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Testimony continued Thursday in Elizabeth Gentzler’s federal lawsuit against Hamilton County, Judge Philyaw and administrator Sam Mairs which claims Gentzler was discriminated against and fired in 2014 for being gay.Still, James said, Mairs suggested Gentzler be moved to a different position when their mutual boss, Juvenile Court Judge Rob Philyaw, confided during a series of conversations that he was losing faith in her judgment.
Then, when Mairs caught wind that Gentzler felt she was being discriminated against for being the only openly gay employee in Junveile Court, he recorded her in secret during a one-on-one meeting, James said.
“You want the jury to believe that you had these discussions [with Philyaw] and didn’t have any input on it?” James asked.