Five Applicants File for Newly Created Criminal Court Judgeship

June 13, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

Five people have applied for a newly created criminal court judge position  in the 13th judicial district which includes DeKalb and six other counties.

The Tennessee Trial Court Vacancy Commission will consider the five applicants when it meets on July 18 in Crossville to select nominees for the judgeship.

The 13th judicial district is made up of Clay, Cumberland, DeKalb, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, and White counties. The new judicial position was created by the Tennessee General Assembly this year and is effective September 1, 2023.

The applicants are:

William Nicholas Blaylock of Sparta

Rebecca Brady of Baxter

Shawn C. Fry of Cookeville

Brandon Scott Griffin of Sparta

Benjamin Marsee of Cookeville

*Blaylock, age 43, currently serves as an administrative law judge (hearing officer) with the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. He was licensed to practice law in 2004.

*Brady, age 53, is an assistant district attorney general for the 13th judicial district. She was licensed to practice law in 2007

*Fry, age 54, is an attorney at Fry, Fry, Knight & Looper, Attorneys at Law in Cookeville. Fry was licensed to practice law in 1996.

*Griffin, age 34, is in the private practice of law as owner of Griffin Law Group, PLLC in Sparta. He was licensed to practice law in 2013

*Marsee, age 40, is an assistant public defender for the 13th judicial district and works part time as an adjunct professor of law in the Business Department at Tennessee Tech University. He was licensed to practice law in 2008.

The public hearing for this position is scheduled to be held at the Stone Memorial High School located at 2800 Cook Road, Crossville, TN 38571, on July 18, 2023, at 9 a.m. CDT.

Any member of the public may attend the public hearing and can express, orally or in writing, objections concerning applicant(s) for the judicial vacancy. If you require an accommodation and/or have special needs because of a qualified disability, or have questions about the Commission, please contact John Jefferson at the Administrative Office of the Courts at John.Jefferson@tncourts.gov or 615-741-2687.

The Commission is expected to vote immediately following the interviews and forward three names to Governor Bill Lee for his consideration.

The governor shall appoint a person to serve as judge and the person so appointed shall serve in that capacity until September 1, 2024, or until the person’s successor is elected and qualified. At the August 2024 general election, the qualified voters of the thirteenth judicial district shall elect, in accordance with § 16-2-505, one (1) person to serve as judge of part III of the circuit court created by this section. The person so elected at the August 2024 election shall hold office until September 1, 2030, or until the person’s successor is elected and qualified. Thereafter, the judge of part III of the circuit court shall be elected for a full eight-year term.

June 12, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

Construction is underway on the new Liberty/Dowelltown Fire Hall with completion expected by fall.

Tim Pedigo was awarded the bid earlier this year to do the construction after a 99-year lease agreement was approved and signed between the county and the towns of Liberty and Dowelltown which jointly own the 8.65 acre property where the new facility is being built. The location is the former Liberty/Dowelltown Park off Highway 70 on West Main Street between the two towns.

The project is being funded by an allocation of $382,912 in ARP funding. Pedigo has 270 days to complete the job from the start of construction.

The new three bay fire hall is expected to improve firefighting and EMS services in the western portion of the county. Under the plan the current Liberty Fire Hall located in downtown Liberty will be replaced by the new Liberty/Dowelltown Fire Hall and the new station will house a fire engine and a tanker truck. The fire hall could also serve as an EMS satellite station subject to the wishes of the county commission.

June 12, 2023
By:

State Senator Janice Bowling, and DeKalb County’s own, State Representative Michael Hale will be speaking to the DeKalb County Republican Party on Saturday, June 17 at 10AM at Smithville City Hall. Sen. Bowling and Rep. Hale will give highlights of this past Legislative Session and discuss upcoming issues for the potential Special Session in August. Donuts and drinks will be available. All DeKalb County Republicans are invited to attend.

“The Tennessee State Legislature passed some very important laws this year and we appreciate Rep. Hale and Sen. Bowling coming to speak with us,” said Ryan Mollinet, Chairman of the DeKalb County Republican Party. “We look forward to hearing from them, and other elected officials. We are seeing a record amount of interest and excitement for the 2024 elections, and we’ll update Republicans on other events we are planning for this year.”

The 2024 Election Cycle has already begun, with the Presidential and County Primary Elections less than 9 months away-March 5, 2024. Please visit our Facebook Page for more information on the DeKalb County Republican Party, or to learn about upcoming events.

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