NASHVILLE -- Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee on Wednesday appointed attorney Amanda B. Dunn to fill the 11th District Criminal Court Division II vacancy in Hamilton County.
The governor also named Hector Sanchez to the 6th District Criminal Court in Knox County.
"I am proud to announce the appointment of these two highly qualified individuals and value the significant experience they will bring to their respective roles," Lee said in a statement. "I appreciate their leadership and am confident they will serve Tennesseans with integrity."
Dunn fills the vacancy created by Lee's appointment of then-Criminal Court Judge Tom Greenholtz to the state Court of Criminal Appeals, Eastern Division.
Two others had applied for the Criminal Court judgeship. One was Alex McVeagh of Chattanooga, a judge who presides over Hamilton County General Sessions Court's Division II. The other was Robert Floyd Davis, a partner at Davis, Kessler & Davis who also serves as a municipal judge in the city of Decherd in Franklin County, according to his application.
Dunn, of Hixson, is a veteran attorney at Houston & Alexander. She earned her bachelor's degree at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and law degree at Wake Forest University School of Law. The 11th Judicial District covers Hamilton County.
She ran unsuccessfully earlier this year for Hamilton County Criminal Courts Division III judge.
In her application for the Greenholtz vacancy, Dunn noted criminal defense work comprised about 80% of her practice. Dunn stated she has practiced in every state and federal court in Hamilton County with the exception of Bankruptcy Court over the past 18 years. She noted she has also handled appellate matters before the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, the Tennessee Court of Appeals and the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals.
-- Compiled by Andy Sher