The search for a new Criminal Court Judge in Tennessee's 20th Judicial District is underway, according to a recent announcement by the Trial Court Vacancy Commission. After Judge Cheryl A. Blackburn's decision to retire, there are now eight candidates contending to fill the empty seat she leaves behind, according to the Administrative Office of the Courts.
A diverse roster of applicants is vying for the position, including Mark Cole, Ronald Dowdy, Dustin Faeder, Keeda J. Haynes, Dominic J. Leonardo, Kyle D. Parks, Stephen Douglas Thurman, and James Harwell Todd. The selection process will not be a behind-the-scenes affair; on July 31, and August 1, the commission will open its doors to the public for a hearing set to begin at 9:00 a.m. The location being the Cordell Hull Building's Senate Hearing Room 1, at 425 Rep. John Lewis Way N., Nashville, Tennessee, as reported by the Administrative Office of the Courts.
Interested parties are welcomed to attend this gathering to not only observe but actively participate. The Administrative Office of the Courts official announcement extends an invitation to any member of the public who might want to express their opinions, "orally or in writing, objections concerning applicant(s) for the judicial vacancy." Those requiring special accommodations due to disabilities, or with questions about the process, are encouraged to reach out to assistant general counsel John Jefferson for support.
Following the interviews, swift action is expected from the Commission, with a vote that will thereafter put forth nominees to Governor Bill Lee's office for final review. This seemingly expedient process underscores the importance of the vacancy—after all, the one who fills this seat will play a critical role in shaping the landscape of justice within the 20th Judicial District for years to come. The selected individual will be stepping into the considerable gap left by the Honorable Cheryl A. Blackburn, whose service to the judiciary has now concluded with her retirement.
