Challenger says he'll take on Knoxville judge who's been on bench for 36 years | Ashe

Attorney Tyler Caviness, 31, says he is running for Knoxville city judge in the Aug. 29 primary. He works with former Knox County Public Defender Mark Stephens. Married with two children, he lives in the West Forest neighborhood.

Caviness says he is running to “bring new professionalism to the office. After 36 years with one occupant, it is truly time for a change.”

City Judge John Rosson is completing 36 years as a judge and is running for reelection. He will be 80 if he completes a 10th term.

Gov. Bill Lee has called a special session of the legislature Aug. 21 to consider his plan to allow “orders of protection” to remove guns from mentally ill people. Today, he clearly does not have the votes. State Rep. Jason Zachary from Farragut is leading the effort to defeat the Lee proposal.

Lee so far has only made a video outlining his plans, but has not met extensively with the 132 lawmakers who must vote on his proposal.

Most Democrats will vote for the Lee plan but say it does not go far enough. Many Republicans argue it violates the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

If Lee truly wants this to be enacted, he must launch a vigorous campaign to engage legislators one-on-one as former Gov. Bill Haslam did when he sought an increase in the gasoline tax. Otherwise, it is doomed to failure, despite public opinion polls showing almost three-fourths of Tennesseans support such laws.

U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett has not endorsed Donald Trump for the GOP nomination for president as have Tennessee Sens. Bill Hagerty and Marsha Blackburn, along with Reps. Chuck Fleischmann, Mark Green, Diana Harshbarger and John Rose. Burchett has had a strong pro-Trump voting record in Congress. His predecessor, Jimmy Duncan, has endorsed Trump for 2024.

Trump supporters, while perhaps disappointed, should not be upset, as Burchett will actively back Trump if he becomes the GOP nominee. His voting record will continue to reflect Trump policies. He has been highly critical of President Joe Biden, even posting a survey on Twitter asking whether Biden should be impeached.

Federal Magistrate Judge Debra Poplin has issued a decision recommending Knox County pay some attorneys’ fees to the families who filed a lawsuit Sept. 2, 2021, against Knox County and Tennessee after the school board and the governor lifted mask mandates during the pandemic.

Federal Judge Ronnie Greer heard it and agreed with the plaintiffs, who said their clients could not attend school safely without a requirement for masks.

This was very controversial at the time, with Mayor Glenn Jacobs and State Rep. Jason Zachary strongly opposing mask mandates.

Attorneys Justin Gilbert and Jessica Salonus, who represent the plaintiffs, have consistently prevailed on legal matters against Knox County Law Director David Buuck and Knox County.

Poplin’s recommendation must be approved by Judge Greer, but it grants $127,350 in fees and $3,649.28 in expenses. This is considerably less than the $294,250 that had been sought.

Nevertheless, it shows the controversy over masks cost Knox County taxpayers. It is unclear if state Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti will appeal.

Kristen Combs will sign copies of her book, “100 Things to Do in Knoxville Before You Die,” 6-9 p.m. May 24 at the Mabry-Hazen House, 1711 Dandridge Ave.

Birthdays 

May 18: Elizabeth Utesch is 30. UT’s Misty Anderson is 56. Brian Blackburn is 38. County Court Clerk Sherry Witt is 64. Democratic State Executive Committee member Jack Vaughan is 23 (he is the youngest member). Attorney Bill Petty is 86. Bryan Testerman is 56. Brent Midyett is 59. Candice M. Neuzil is 52.

May 19: Lawrence Bodie is 51. Doug Catlett is 60. Attorney and former state Rep. Wayne Ritchie is 59. Robert L. Crossley is 36. Former Knox GOP chair Ruthie Kuhlman is 69. Craig S. Pickett Jr. is 37. Attorney John Lawhorn is 61.

May 20: Gary W. Bentley is 66. Raymond Christian is 51. Ron Reagan Jr. is 65.

May 21: Todd Boruff is 52. Michael Kohl is 49. Wayne Davis is 75. Wayne Kline is 72. Bill Ambrose is 83. Attorney Allen Schwartz is 79.

May 22: Savannah Maupin is 38. J. Victor Ashe, son of former mayor Victor Ashe, is 33. Former city school board member Julia Tucker is 92. Former City Council member Nick Della Volpe is 75. Joe Petre is 60. Lyle Irish is 81. Jesse Nelson is 42.

May 23: Matthew Scoggins is 45. Meryl Keegan is 43. Dennis Duchon, husband of University of Tennessee Chancellor Donde Plowman, is 76.

May 24: Steve South, president of South College, is 64. Attorney Edward Trent is 56. Art Clancy III is 65. Ann Furrow is 78. Elizabeth Orr is 40. U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Memphis) is 74.

May 25: Jeannie Dulaney is 71. Judge Mike Swiney is 74. State Rep. Gloria Johnson is 61. Former UT law dean Doug Blaze is 69. Bill Young is 73. Former Knoxville Vice Mayor Duane Grieve is 77. Malinda Little is 56.

Victor Ashe is a former Knoxville mayor and former ambassador to Poland. He is a columnist for Shopper News. 

Knox News and Shopper News promptly correct all errors. If you think we have published incorrect information, please email accuracy@knoxnews.com. Describe the error, where you saw it, the date, page number or the URL.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: City judge who's been on bench for 36 years will face challenger | Ashe