From left, Joe DeGaetano, Valerie Epstein, Yolanda Mitchell, Ron Powers, Gary Starnes and Patricia Best Vital participate in the General Sessions judge candidate forum held on Wednesday at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga University Center auditorium. The General Sessions Court judge seat was left vacant after Judge Bob Moon’s death.Six of the seven candidates for General Sessions Court judge answered reader and audience submitted questions at a public forum co-sponsored by the Times Free Press and Chattanooga Bar Association at UTC Wednesday evening.
The candidates had under two minutes to answer questions during the hour and a half long event. More than 60 people, mostly individual candidate supporters, listened to responses.
Joe DeGaetano, Valerie Epstein, Yolanda Mitchell, Ron Powers, Gary Starnes and Patricia Best Vital took part in the forum. Interim Sessions Judge David Norton, who is also a candidate, did not attend due to illness.
The candidates echoed each other’s comments on questions such as if they would approve or encourage electronic recording of court hearings, how they would handle criminal defendants who make bond but claim not to be able to afford an attorney and if they will be accessible to attorneys off the bench.
With minor variations each of the six candidates said they approved of recording proceedings, would scrutinize closely requests for a court-appointed attorney and all said they would be accessible after hours to attorneys within the court rules for discussing cases.