Eleven Chattanooga-area attorneys have applied for the Hamilton County judgeship being vacated by Chancellor Howell Peoples, who announced his retirement in January, state officials said Tuesday.
The Judicial Nominating Commission will hold a Feb. 23 public hearing at the Sheraton Read House Hotel in Chattanooga to interview the applicants.
The executive committee meeting and applicant interviews will be at 8:30 a.m. EST, and the public hearing will begin at 9 a.m.
During the hearing, attorneys and members of the public may voice support or opposition to candidates. After the hearing, the commission will interview each applicant before recommending three to the governor. The public is invited to attend.
The applicants include Jeffrey Michael Atherton, Valerie Wyber Epstein, Leah M. Gerbitz, Arthur C. Grisham, Linda B. Hall, B. Paul Hatcher, Joe E. Manuel, Stephany Skaggs Pedigo, Gary W. Starnes, Catherine M. White and Robert L. Widerkehr Jr.
Whomever the governor nominates to the bench must run in a special contested election this summer to continue serving out Chancellor Peoples’ term.