Two Republican Hamilton County Circuit Court judge candidates considered how their personal values and political beliefs may influence the cases they preside over ahead of the primary election.
Chattanooga attorney Michele Coffman and Hamilton County General Sessions Judge Alex McVeagh both answered questions over email about how their respective outlooks on life would play into a judgeship. They are both seeking the Republican nomination in the race to replace former Circuit Court Judge Marie Williams.
Coffman and McVeagh identify as conservative Christians.
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Hamilton County Circuit Court judge candidates would separate personal beliefs from the bench
As a Tennessee judge, they cannot manifest bias or prejudice based on a person’s attributes — race, sex, gender, religion, national origin, ethnicity, disability, age, sexual orientation, marital status, socioeconomic status or political affiliation, according to the state’s Code of Judicial Conduct.
“Although each judge comes to the bench with a unique background and personal philosophy, a judge must interpret and apply the law without regard to whether the judge approves or disapproves of the law in question,” the code states.