Knoxville's Hector Sanchez becomes state’s first Hispanic criminal court judge

Victor Ashe
·4 min read
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Gov. Bill Lee last week appointed Hector Sanchez, an assistant district attorney for major crimes, to the Knox County Criminal Court judgeship vacated by Kyle Hixson. The position has been vacant since Sept. 1 after Hixson’s appointment to the Criminal Court of Appeals.

Sanchez is the first Hispanic to serve as criminal court or trial judge in Tennessee. He will serve until the August 2024 general election. The GOP primary will be in March 2024. He lives in South Knoxville and worked for District Attorney Charme Allen for eight years. He is a graduate of Old Dominion University and the UT College of Law. He was a sergeant in the Marine Corps, serving 2005-09, and did a tour in Afghanistan.

Sanchez, 38, is married and has a stepson, Ethan, 16. While he grew up in Boston, he moved to Knoxville because his parents had lived here and got his law degree. He was one of three people submitted to Lee as candidates for the position: the other two were Wes Stone and Emily Abbott.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis paid a personal call on former Gov. Bill Haslam while he was in Knoxville for a luncheon fundraiser Sept. 21. Haslam is often mentioned as a possible commonsense GOP vice presidential candidate. The DeSantis event raised $140,000.

U.S. Sen. Bill Hagerty, former ambassador to Japan, was asked by President Joe Biden to be part of the U.S. delegation to the state funeral of assassinated Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Sept. 27. This demonstrates that bipartisanship sometimes still happens in Washington, considering Hagerty has been an active critic of Biden. Hagerty voted against confirming many of Biden's Cabinet appointments. However, Hagerty did support Rahm Emanuel, former Chicago mayor, to be ambassador to Japan.

Former President Donald Trump would never have included any critic of his on a similar delegation. Vice President Kamala Harris led the 11-member delegation, which also included former Ambassadors Caroline Kennedy, Thomas Schieffer and John Roos. The U.S. Embassy in Tokyo handled arrangements.

Akie Abe, center, widow of former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, carries his ashes as she arrives at his state funeral in Tokyo on Sept. 27.
Akie Abe, center, widow of former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, carries his ashes as she arrives at his state funeral in Tokyo on Sept. 27.

Abe was more popular outside Japan than within. There was controversy in Japan on holding a rare state funeral and its cost.

The East Tennessee Foundation, which for months has been deciding the fate of former CEO Michael McClamroch, issued a statement that McClamroch was no longer the CEO. Such a spartan statement triggers further talk about what may have been the full reasons for his departure. Since a lawsuit is anticipated from McClamroch in the near future, key officers are cautious in what they say. The foundation did not announce who the interim CEO would be after the departure of McClamroch.

Dorothy Stair was honored by Blount Mansion on Sept. 22 with a reception at the Craighead Jackson House across the street. The gardens behind the house are named in honor of Stair, who has been a longtime volunteer supporter and donor to Blount Mansion.

Almost a century ago, Blount Mansion was to be razed for a parking lot. It was saved by a group of women of Knoxville who wanted our history preserved. Stair continues that legacy of dedication, commitment and hard work. The Knoxville Garden Club also assists in maintaining the gardens.

Birthdays

Oct. 7: Michael Littlejohn is 71. Marcus Carmon is 41. Lauren Madigan is 39. Russian President Vladimir Putin is 70. Marsey Williams is 75. Mike Wooten is 65.  Thomas Rentenbach is 83.

Oct. 8: Former County Commissioner Amy Broyles is 55. JoAnn Coffman is 92. Hugh G. Neil Jr. is 78. Buddy Burkhardt is 65. Attorneys Francis Cain and Wilson Ritchie are 85. U.S. Rep. David Kustoff is 56. Wade Davies is 56. Former County Commissioner R. Larry Smith is 69. Retired News Sentinel editor Harry Moskos is 86. Ashley Glander is 41.

Oct. 9: Gov. Bill Lee is 63. Jarrod Arellano is 46. Tony Vitello is 44. Attorney J. Todd Bolinger is 59. Attorney Kenneth Gresham is 96.

Oct. 10: Andrew B. Conrad is 40. Retired Chamber CEO Jack Hammontree is 81. William H. Curtis is 80. Joshua Gregory is 33. Former Knox Chancellor Clarence Pridemore Jr. is 48.

Oct. 11: U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann of Chattanooga is 60. Michael Foltz is 73. Tyvi Small is 45.

Oct. 12: Cheryl Bartley is 62. Holly Moore is 43. Bill Fox is 73. Kasey Krouse is 39. Dennis McClane and Gary Heatherly are 71. Attorney Lewis Foster is 80. Tanner Harris is 43.

Oct. 13: Bruce Cole is 55. David Colquitt is 36. Ellen Robinson is 68. Second gentleman Doug Emhoff is 58. Hanson Tipton is 48. Former City Council candidate Jim Klonaris is 61. Attorney James Corcoran is 43. Former county mayor Democratic nominee and now at-large City Council candidate Debbie Helsley is 69. Steve Friedlander is 63.

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

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

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Hector Sanchez becomes state's first Hispanic criminal court judge