A new Hamilton County chancellor is expected to be appointed by the end of March after the surprise resignation Monday of longtime Chancellor Howell Peoples, officials said.
According to Tennessee’s Administrative Office of the Courts in Nashville, the state’s Judicial Selection Commission now has 60 days to submit three names to the governor as possible replacements for Chancellor Peoples.
Chancellor Peoples has served as one of two judges on the county’s Chancery Court for the past 32 years. The court is a “court of equity,” presiding over most local civil lawsuits in which money is a driving factor, such as those involving wills and estates.
Chancellor Peoples’ announcement came as a surprise to many because his term of office does not expire until 2014. Clerk and Master Lee Akers, who heads up the administrative offices of Chancery Court, said his colleague was well liked and would be deeply missed.
Chancellor Peoples clarified Tuesday from his office that the time simply had come for him to retire, pointing to his wife’s recent retirement from her administrative position with the Tennessee Valley Authority.
“We just decided we wanted more time to spend with the family and grandkids,” Chancellor Peoples explained. His last day will be March 31.
Chancellor Peoples said he did not know of anyone who was immediately interested in succeeding him.
Mr. Akers also said Tuesday that he has not received any inquiries about the appointment process.
WHAT’S NEXT
Chancellors must campaign for their positions in contested elections. Chancellor Peoples’ replacement will be appointed by the governor until the general elections this summer, when the appointee will have to campaign for the right to finish out his term, which ends in 2014.