Friday, September 16, 2016

Officials agree to find quick replacement for indicted Tennessee judge

KNOXVILLE — After hearing complaints of an overburdened court, Campbell County commissioners agreed to move quickly to find a replacement for a judge who is under criminal indictment and facing an ethics probe.

Eighth Judicial District Chancellor Elizabeth Asbury told commissioners Monday that the county general sessions court is short-staffed and needs someone to take over the duties for Judge Amanda Sammons as soon as possible, the Knoxville News Sentinel reported.

"I don't think anybody in this room... knows the number of people who come through (Campbell County) general sessions court," Asbury said. "Those people (awaiting hearings) are sitting over there for half a day because we can't be in two places at one time."

Commissioners said they will both interview candidates and pick someone for the interim position Monday.

Sammons was suspended from the bench last month after a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation probe led to an indictment on four felony counts of official misconduct. She is accused of lying and misusing her authority in two cases.

Sammons' lawyer, Wade Davies, says Sammons is innocent and can show she hasn't committed any offense.

The judge is also under an ethics probe by the Tennessee Board of Judicial Conduct involving numerous complaints filed by citizens, attorneys and at least one fellow judge.

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Officials agree to find quick replacement for indicted Tennessee judge

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