As judges waive $1.2M in fines/fees, officials look at other punishments

Knox County’s five sessions court judges have waived a little more than a combined $1.2 million in court costs, fines and fees assigned to local offenders since last September when they started their new terms in office.

And, Knox County’s three criminal court’s judges – who hear fewer cases than their peers in sessions court – have waived a little more than a combined $60,100 during the same time period.

That means a not only are lot of local defendants not paying for their crimes, but the county and state are also losing out on much-needed revenue. Local leaders, however, noted that many of the defendants probably cannot afford the costs.

"We see an awful lot of people who are chronically addicted, homeless, mentally ill," said Sessions Court judge Check Cerny.

The judges are tasked not only with handing down punishments, but also deciding who can and cannot pay court fines and fees.

"We're very, very careful," Cerny said. "we receive testimony in open court and often, we actually require affidavits (which detail a defendant's finances)." We scrutinize the evidence and make a decision based on, not sympathy, but rather whether or not it's financially prudent to continue trying to collect something that would be impossible to collect."

But, there might be something they can do about it.

When the state General Assembly meets again in January, officials are expected to talk about a proposal that would let judges waive the costs, yet subject the defendants to some sort of community service, possibly picking up trash on the side of the road, cleaning up the Tennessee River or volunteering at a non-profit.

Rest of the story RIGHT HERE.

Bonding companies owe state $141K

More than a dozen East Tennessee bail bonding agencies owe the state a total of almost $141,000 because their Knox County defendants failed to show up for court, records show.

Knoxville-based Unchained is on the hook for the most at $54,500, and AA Bonding, which has regional offices, owes $32,550, according to records provided by the Knox County Criminal Court Clerk's Office.

In addition, the state is due $24,500 from the locally operated Southern Bail and another $10,150 from A and A.

Another 10 companies each were in debt to the state as of Sept. 15 for between $500 and $4,500.

Some bonding companies counter, however, that the figures do not tell the whole story.

Sean Sanford manages Sanford & Son, which dates to the 1930s. He said only a few companies owe much of the money. Sanford, who learned Friday the clerk's list showed him owing $2,000, said he quickly paid what he owed.

He also said one notice from the clerk's office was in error and that he owes nothing for the defendant.

The three companies identified as the top offenders either declined comment or could not be reached.

Rest of the story RIGHT HERE.

With opponent out, Mayor Rogero to cruise to re-election victory

Rogero

Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero, baring an unlikely and almost impossible write-in push, will easily win re-election to a second and final term.

William "Buck" Cochran, a self-employed writer who ran unsuccessfully for a City Council seat in 2011, withdrew from the mayoral race Thursday morning.

That means Rogero needs 50 percent plus 1 vote in the Sept. 29 primary to automatically win a second four-year term as the city's mayor, as she will be exempt from the November general election, according to the city charter.

In addition, municipal Judge John Rosson, who also faces no opposition, will more than likely cruise to victory in September and not appear on the November ballot.

However, the charter does not include language for Knoxville City Council members – like George Wallace who is unopposed in his own re-election bid – to skip the general elections even if no one qualifies against them.

Cochran was not considered a serious candidate in the non-partisan mayoral race, but his withdrawal now all but assures Rogero's victory in a couple of months.

Thursday at noon was the deadline to withdraw from the city races.

Carly Baskette also withdrew from the "Seat B" City Council at-large seat, so that leaves incumbent Marshall Stair and perennial candidate Pete Drew in that race. But, those two will automatically go on to the general election, since the top two vote-getters in the city primaries automatically move on.

It appears now that the only drama in the city races will be for "Seat C" currently held by Finbarr Saunders who faces David Williams, Kelly Absher and Paul Bonovich.

Knoxville, Oak Ridge women voter leagues to host amendments forum

Information about the proposed constitutional amendments on the Nov. 4 ballot will be discussed in a voter forum Oct. 7, 7:00 p.m. at the Pollard Auditorium on the Oak Ridge Associated Universities campus, 120 Badger Avenue, Oak Ridge. The forum is free and open to the public.

The League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge and Knoxville are partnering with the Oak Ridge Branch of American Association of University Women and the Women’s Interfaith Dialogue of Oak Ridge to present the forum.

Corinne Rovetti, co-director and family nurse practitioner for the Knoxville Center for Reproductive Health, will address Amendment 1 which deals with reproductive choice. Judy Cornett, distinguished professor, College of Law, University of Tennessee, will speak to Amendment 2 which proposes a change in the selection of appellate judges. Sherry Davis Kasper, professor of Economics, Maryville College, will discuss Amendment 3 which would prohibit any tax on earned income.

The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.

Commish to select magistrate Aug. 25

The Knox County Commission at 1 p.m. on Aug. 18 will interview candidates to replace long-time magistrate Richard Major.

Major, who served as the chief of the magistrates, is stepping down (or up depending on how you want to look at it) to take over as incoming Knox County Criminal Court Clerk Mike Hammond's second-in-command. (That was a long sentence. Heh.)

Commissioners will make a final decision during their Aug. 25 meeting.

Judicial candidates hitting the TVs

Circuit Court Judge Harold Wimberly (Div. 2) has released his third television ad (this guy is on a roll) entitled "Dear Mr. Judge." (Naw, I'm not kidding.)

Anyhoo, you can check it out below. Wimberly, a Democrat, faces Bill Ailor, a Republican, in the Aug. 7 general election.


Leland Price, who faces Scott Green for the Criminal Court (Div 2) judge seat in the same election, also has released his second television ad. 

You can find that below



As always, send me your election stuff for publication consideration.

Fansler releases 2nd television ad

Well, the good Chancellor Daryl Fansler is on a roll, releasing his second television ad in the last week or so.

You can find it below:



Fansler faces Clarence Pridemore, who has refused to debate him, in the Aug. 7 general election.

Fansler began practicing law at Bond, Carpenter, & O'Connor before co-founding what is now Stokes, Williams, Sharp and Davies in 1989. He was elected as Knox County Chancellor, Part II, Sixth Judicial District, State of Tennessee in 1998, and subsequently re-elected in 2006. Over the course of his career, he has presided over 25,000 cases in Knox County Chancery Court.

As always, send over your political stuff for publication consideration.

Price campaign releases first TV ad

Leland Price, who is running for the Criminal Court (Division III) judicial post, has released his first television ad, according to his campaign.

Price, a Democrat, faces Scott Green, a Republican, in the Aug. 7 county General Election. Price currently serves as a prosecutor in the Knox County Attorney General's Office. Green, a former county prosecutor, now has his own law firm.

The ad is mostly comprised of testimonials from the Christian and Newsom families.

You can find it below:



As always send me your political items for publication consideration.