Knox County is racing to fill the Criminal Court seat left empty by the sudden death of Judge Scott Green, with the state's Trial Court Vacancy Commission now accepting applications for his former position. Green, 64, died unexpectedly at his home of natural causes on October 30. Applications to succeed him are due the afternoon of Monday, November 23, with a public hearing scheduled for 9 a.m. on December 11 in Knox County.
The vacancy announcement came as WBIR reported that Knox County is seeking an appointment to fill Green's seat, according to WBIR. A separate report detailing the application and hearing dates notes that the Trial Court Vacancy Commission is now accepting applications for the job, as reported by a Yahoo-hosted news report. That report also lays out the basic facts of Green's death, describing him as having been elected to the bench in 2014 and dying unexpectedly at home.
A Judge's Path From Prosecutor to the Bench
Green built his legal career long before he took the bench, working for years first as a prosecutor and then as a defense attorney before voters elected him in 2014, per the same Yahoo-hosted account. His death left the Division III Criminal Court seat for Knox County without a permanent occupant, triggering the state's standard vacancy process.
That process has a defined role under state law. The commission accepts applications from qualified attorneys, interviews them, and ultimately makes a recommendation to the governor for consideration, according to the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts. The December 11 hearing will give the public a chance to weigh in before any recommendation moves forward.
A Temporary Fill-In While the Process Plays Out
In the meantime, the bench isn't sitting empty. The Tennessee Supreme Court appointed Senior Judge D. Kelly Thomas Jr. to serve as Green's replacement as the Division III judge for Knox County's criminal court until March 31, 2027, according to WATE. Thomas brings decades of judicial experience to the temporary assignment, having served on the Court of Criminal Appeals from 2006 to 2022 and as a circuit court judge in the Fifth Judicial District from 1990 to 2006, WATE reports.
The timing of the vacancy process has drawn attention because of the calendar. The pace of the process indicates Gov. Bill Lee could make the permanent appointment before his term ends on January 16, 2027, though the report framing that possibility stops short of calling it a certainty. Whether the governor acts in time, and who ultimately takes the bench long-term, remains to be seen as the November 23 application deadline and December 11 hearing approach.
