In a courtroom full of friends, family and former colleagues, a portrait of retired Hamilton County Criminal Court Judge Don W. Poole was unveiled during a ceremony Wednesday.
"I miss this court," Poole said as he held a special gavel presented to him by Judge Boyd Patterson, who succeeded him in Division III of the court. "I miss this court because I miss being a judge."
Poole presided over Division III of the Criminal Court for 17 years before retiring in August 2022.
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"Everything you would ask for a judge to be, that was Judge Poole," Chattanooga attorney Jay Morgan said during the presentation of the portrait.
Poole graduated from the University of Tennessee and University of Tennessee Law School in 1964 and 1965, respectively. He began his legal career as a law clerk at the Tennessee Supreme Court and worked as an assistant district attorney in Hamilton County for three years before going into private practice. He was elected as a judge in 2006.
Poole also served in the U.S. Air Force and was stationed in Nevada, where he met his wife of 55 years, Candice Poole, before returning to Chattanooga.
Twelve judges filled the jury box to show their support for Poole, including Barry Steelman and Tom Greenholtz, who presided next to Poole for several years at the Criminal Court before his retirement.
Using humor to thank his way through the celebration, Poole said he probably was the person who celebrated his retirement the longest.
"It went from July all the way to September," Poole said. "I appreciate all that you have done for me."
Patterson thanked Poole for his service and said he learned four important things from his predecessor: integrity, work ethic, collegiality and humor.
"Judge Poole, role model," Patterson said. "I think that really struck me about Judge Poole. He always treated lawyers with deference. He has been on both sides, the prosecutor and defendant attorney."
"Criminal Court ... interesting people come through all the time. They're eccentric, moody, present challenges of every type, and that's just the lawyers, including myself," Patterson quipped. "Judge Poole recognized that, as well being known for de-escalating situations with just one humorous observation."
Contact La Shawn Pagán at lpagan@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6476.