With early voting just around the corner, two attorneys made their cases Monday for why they should be elected Hamilton County Circuit Court judge.
"I would ask you to look at the fact that the governor did appoint me," Kyle Hedrick said. "This is not just some willy-nilly decision in order to fill a stopgap."
Circuit Court candidate Catherine "Cate" White speaks at the Pachyderm Club on Monday.
Circuit Court Judge Kyle Hedrick speaks at the Pachyderm Club on Monday."I am trying to reach the people, the voters," Catherine "Cate" White said. "I want to be their judge, the people's choice, as opposed to someone selected for them."
County voters can decide for themselves between April 11-26, when early voting begins for the race. The primary voting day is May 1.
Hedrick and White, both Republicans, had about 15 minutes apiece to make their cases to members of the Pachyderm Club, a local group for GOP politics.
Hedrick reminded members he's been on the bench since Gov. Bill Haslam appointed him in December 2017.
After then-judge Neil Thomas announced his retirement in April, Hedrick was one of nine people to apply for the job. After a public interview process in August, a state commission selected him and two others for Haslam's personal review.
Hedrick said he's observed how to be a judge from 30 years of practicing law in Hamilton County. He said he's been focused on making sure people's cases are heard as soon as possible.
"I've tried criminal and civil cases. I've done bench trials in Circuit, General Sessions, Juvenile and Chancery courts. I've done family law, construction litigation, medical malpractice. You name the type of case and the type of forum - I've been there," Hedrick said.
White also emphasized her experience: She's been practicing family law and handling a variety of civil matters for 28 years. White said she had a few ideas to improve things for children who are dragged into family disputes in court.
"Studies show it literally changes the chain formation of children who endure these prolonged periods of stress," White said. "If I'm elected and have a set of parents who didn't listen after being taught not to draw the children in, I'm going to send them to a seminar. And here's the beauty of it: It's free."
Both attorneys were born in Chattanooga and forged their careers here.
White, who graduated from Girls Preparatory School in 1978, said she received a degree in broadcast journalism from Baylor University in 1982 and became an attorney after working in the news media for several years. White has been licensed to practice in Tennessee since she graduated from Cumberland School of Law in 1988.
Hedrick received his law degree from the University of Tennessee in 1987 after earning a bachelor's degree from Lipscomb University three years earlier. At the time of his appointment, Hedrick served as the administrative hearing officer for the cities of East Ridge, Collegedale and Red Bank.
Since 2001, Hedrick has been in practice at Ramer & Hedrick in Hixson.
Contact staff writer Zack Peterson at zpeterson@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6347. Follow him on Twitter @zackpeterson918.