Hamilton County Sessions Court judges David Bales, left, and Bob Moon are the subject of a complaint filed with the Tennessee Court of the Judiciary, courthouse sources say.Hamilton County Sessions Court Judges David Bales and Bob Moon are the subject of a complaint filed with the Tennessee Court of the Judiciary, and part of the complaint may concern conduct related to the selection of Hamilton County's next mayor, sources said Wednesday.
Moon said he does not know anything about a complaint, though he said he has spoken with several commissioners as a private citizen about the county mayor's job. Attempts to reach Bales were unsuccessful.
Commissioners are deadlocked 4-4 between County Commissioner Jim Coppinger and special assistant to the mayor Mike Carter. Carter told the Times Free Press that Bales and Moon actively campaigned against him. The Tennessee Code of Judicial Conduct forbids judges from engaging in certain political activities. Judges cannot publicly endorse candidates but can make their views known privately to others.
Two attorneys who practice at the courthouse, who asked for anonymity because the complaint is confidential, said the complaint concerns previous political activity of both Bales and Moon. One of the attorneys also believes that the complaint, which he said was filed by Criminal Court Judge Rebecca Stern, may deal with the judges lobbying county commissioners to support Jim Coppinger for county mayor.
Stern declined comment. Tim Discenza, chief disciplinary counsel to the Tennessee Court of the Judiciary, said Wednesday he could not comment and all complaints are confidential. He said complaints do not become a matter of public record until a judge receives a form of public discipline.
The complaint is "a substantial package of information that was pulled together and sent to the Court of the Judiciary," said one of the local attorneys who is familiar with the complaint. "It's an extensive package, with clippings from articles, appearances at the Pachyderm Club, statements [that] they were going to give support to different things, a wide range of matters, and I'm sure most recently the conversations about the county mayor."
Commissioner Joe Graham, who has confirmed he spoke with Bales and Moon about the county mayor's vote, said he had no knowledge of the investigation.
Moon said he has not called any commissioners but they have called him. He called the complaint "rumors and innuendo."
"I certainly know what the canons of ethics allow and would not allow," Moon said. "I know the requirements of the canon of judicial ethics. I have exercised my private First Amendment rights to relay my preference as I have done in many elections."
Contact staff writer Dan Whisenhunt at dwhisenhunt@timesfreepress.com or (423)-757-6481. Follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/DWhisenhunt.