The Tennessee Trial Court Vacancy Commission met Tuesday, July 18, in Crossville to select nominees for a newly created criminal court judge position in the 13th Judicial District. From the nearly five-hour hearing, three names were selected on first ballot from five applicants to be submitted to Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee. The 13th Judicial District includes 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 five candidates facing the panel of 11 members of the commission were:

·         William M. Blaylock, Sparta, an administrative law judge/hearing officer for the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

·         Rebecca Brady, Baxter, a former Department of Children’s Services attorney now working in the child support division of the District Attorney’s Office.

·         Shawn C. Fry, 54, Cookeville, a general practice attorney who has had four-years experience in the District Attorney’s Office.

·         Brandon S. Griffin, 34, Sparta, a private practice attorney with satellite offices in two other counties in addition to his White County office

·         Benjamin Marsee, 40, of Cookeville, who previously worked in the Public Defender’s Office and in the division of workman’s compensation for the Tennessee Department of Labor.

The Commission selected Fry, Griffin, and Marsee as nominees to forward to Governor Bill Lee for his consideration. It will be Lee who will appoint one to the newly created position of Criminal Court Judge Part III in the 13th Judicial District.

The governor will soon appoint one of the applicants 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.

The district is served by Chancellor Ron Thurman and two Civil Court Judges — Carolyn Knight and William Ridley — and two Criminal Court judges, Wesley Bray and Gary McKenzie.