Three lawyers nominated for 9th Judicial Circuit judgeship

Richard Locker knoxnews.com

 

NASHVILLE — The Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments on Friday nominated all three applicants for an upcoming criminal court vacancy in the 9th Judicial Circuit, made up of Loudon, Roane, Meigs and Morgan counties.

 

The names now go to Gov. Bill Haslam, who will appoint a successor to Judge E. Eugene Eblen, whose retirement is effective Dec. 31. The council met Friday in Harriman to interview the three lawyers who met a Sept. 8 deadline to submit applications and voted to submit all three:

Walter B. Johnson II, 62, of Lenoir City, an assistant public defender in the district who graduated from the University of Tennessee law school in 1984.

Porsche Lyn Shantz, 46, of Lenoir City, a staff attorney for the Tennessee Court of Appeals who graduated from the University of Miami law school in 1994.

Jeffery H. Wicks, 52, of Rockwood, a Roane County general sessions judge who graduated from the UT law school in 1999.

The governor can choose from the three or ask for a new slate of three for the judgeship. Whomever is appointed will serve through next August. An election will be held Aug. 4 to determine who will serve the remaining six years of the eight-year judicial term. The governor’s appointee can become a candidate in that election.