Two local attorneys revealed Friday that they have initiated a second ethics complaint against General Sessions Judge David Bales
Attorneys Hank Hill and Myrlene Marsa, members of the Chattanooga Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, said they are the source of a second ethics complaint on Bales sent to the Tennessee Court of the Judiciary.
The attorneys said the complaint, filed Nov. 20, primarily concerns Bales’ conduct in the courtroom.
Criminal Court Judge Rebecca Stern said this week that she had filed the other complaint, which was against Bales and General Sessions Judge Bob Moon.
Neither of the complaints has been released to the Times Free Press. But, according to those involved, both contain evidence compiled from media sources to document the alleged misconduct of Bales and Moon.
On Friday, Bales said that the sources of both complaints are using the media to sway public opinion.
“It is apparent that these people who are filing complaints want to try their cases in the media,” Bales said. “I do not. Any complaint filed against me will be responded to and addressed in the appropriate venue.”
Moon has said he will have no further comment on the complaints.
Like the complaint filed by Stern in December, the attorneys’ complaint also touches on Bales’ alleged political activities.
After filing their initial complaint, the attorneys said they contacted the Court of the Judiciary again after hearing that Bales and Moon were pressuring Hamilton County commissioners as they decided on a replacement for outgoing County Mayor Claude Ramsey.
The original complaint centers on Bales’ alleged conduct during a case involving domestic violence charges against David Wininger, the attorneys said.
After Bales set a $70,000 bond in the case, Wininger’s attorney, Wendy Stanfield, took the case to Stern, who released the defendant on his own recognizance.
Bales later summoned Stanfield to his court and asked why her client was set free. He’s also quoted in a Chattanoogan.com article on Nov. 4, calling Stern’s decision “highly irregular.”
Hill said members of the attorneys’ association took issue with Bales’ decision to summon Stanfield.
“When you summon an attorney when nothing is on the docket, I see that as an act of intimidation,” Hill said. “Especially when what Stanfield did was perfectly legal.”
The Court of the Judiciary does not confirm complaints.
Hill said the complaint was mailed to Bales on Dec. 7.
Stern’s complaint touches on a wide range of issues, including Bales’ criticism of her decision in the Wininger case. It also claims ethics violations regarding the judges’ alleged political activity on behalf of Commissioner Joe Graham and City Court Judge Sherry Paty.
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