Will Roberson, a life-long resident of Putnam County and a prominent attorney representing citizens for more than 18 years before local courts, has announced his bid to replace retiring Criminal Court Judge Leon Burns.
Roberson is the son of Bill and Judy Roberson, the family behind Roberson’s Department Store in Cookeville for more than 50 years. Judy has been a long-term employee of the Upper Cumberland Development District and active in programs for senior citizens throughout her career there.
Roberson said he plans to seek the Democratic nomination for the position currently held by retiring Democratic Judge Leon Burns due to his family’s long-standing conservative Democratic background. 
“Tradition is important to me and to my family, and as such, I want to continue the tradition of outstanding judicial leadership demonstrated by Judge Burns during his tenure,” said Roberson. “My goal, if elected, is to ensure that fairness and justice rules for all citizens who come before our court system.”
Roberson, a graduate of Cookeville High School, earned his law degree from UT Law School in Knoxville. He formerly worked in the office of the District Attorney General as a prosecutor, and has since been engaged in private law practice, where he has handled a wide variety of civil and criminal cases for a combined total of 18 years. 
Roberson said he learned at an early age the value of hard work and service to others from his parents and by working in his family’s store on the square in Cookeville.
“I know first-hand the challenges and struggles people and their families face who live and work throughout the Upper Cumberland region,” said Roberson.  “I learned that regardless of your politics or your social standing, all folks have certain inalienable rights as citizens and should be treated with respect, and thus, are protected by the laws of the land.”
Roberson added, “If given the privilege to serve, I would bring that deep-rooted understanding of the people and culture of our area, coupled with my hands-on working knowledge of our constitutional rights and the law, to the bench as Criminal Court Judge.”
Roberson has also been involved in the community, having served as a past member of the board of directors of Cityscape, and as a member of the First United Methodist Church of Cookeville.
In addition to his law practice, Roberson is also a licensed pilot, and serves as the current chairman of the Upper Cumberland Regional Airport Board and a member of the board of trustees of the Swift Museum Foundation in Athens. True to his family traditions, in his spare time, Roberson pilots a Globe Swift-type aircraft, the same type built by his maternal grandfather during the 1940s.
The primary election for Criminal Court Judge is slated for May 6, 2014, followed by the general election on Aug. 7.