A Hamilton County judge is receiving surgical treatment for a brain tumor Wednesday, according to a Facebook post he made.
General Sessions Judge Gary Starnes said in a Tuesday health update that the operation’s goal is to remove as much of the tumor as possible. According to the social media post, he’s served on the General Sessions bench for almost 14 years, and he called it the honor of a lifetime.
“I am going to fight this tumor to the best of my ability and return to work if healthy enough to do so,” he said.
If the surgery goes well, he will begin chemotherapy in the weeks to come, according to the post. Starnes did not respond to a Tuesday evening social media message requesting a phone interview.
When called Wednesday for details about how his seat will be filled in the interim, his office said an administrator would call the Chattanooga Times Free Press back at a later time.
In the halls of the Courts Building, Chattanooga attorney and former Hamilton County Judge Gerald Webb said everyone is praying for the judge. According to him, Starnes is a dedicated family man who has made a huge impact on the community.
“I mean, if anybody is gonna come back from this, it’s gonna be Judge Starnes,” Webb said. “He’s just that kind of guy. I know he loves what he does.”
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Contact courts reporter Mason Edwards at medwards@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6409.
