Candidates vie for judgeship

Written by: Doug Davis

MURFREESBORO — The three candidates left standing after the Tennessee Judicial Nominating Commission’s proceedings concluded Friday told The Daily News Journal earlier this week why they are qualified to be the next appointed 16th Judicial District judge. “I have been in practice for 23 years,” said Howard Wilson, 51, of Lascassas. “I have a broader range of experience due to the fact that I have practiced so much longer (than the other two candidates).

He said he also was an administrative law judge for the Tennessee Department of Education for 14 of those years. “I have the proper demeanor to be the judge,” he said, referring to a Rutherford/Cannon County Bar Association poll which gave him high marks. He came in third as highly recommended with 37 votes, 26.8 percent.

Another finalist, M. Keith Siskin picked up 56 votes in the highly recommended category and picked up 40.6 percent of those surveyed to come out on top in the poll.
Siskin, 40, a magistrate in Rutherford County Juvenile Court, spoke of his qualifications Monday afternoon. “I have a well-rounded background. I’ve got eight years of judicial experience,” he said. “From 1998 to 2007, I practiced law. When you combine my judicial experience with the litigation experience, I can see both sides of the courtroom and see how things should be done.”

Siskin was appointed part-time magistrate by Judge Donna Scott Davenport in juvenile court in 2004 and Siskin became full-time magistrate in 2007.
“It has the same powers as judge,” Siskin said. “The only difference is that the (Magistrate’s) decision can be appealed to the judge.

Barnes, 36, touts her judicial experience and experience as an attorney. “The circuit court judges in our district hear both criminal and civil cases and I have experience in both,” Barnes said. “I have also received special training from the National Judicial College, the nation’s leading provider of education for judges,” the Smyrna Municipal Judge said.

Barnes said she hears criminal general sessions cases as part of her duties in Smyrna.

“Which means I conduct preliminary hearings for felony charges,” she continued. “I conduct bench trials for misdemeanor charges and hear violation of probation hearings. I (also) hear municipal code violations and traffic offenses.”

The Smyrna court by special legislation, she explained, has concurrent general sessions jurisdiction for criminal cases. “From what I understand of the other candidates, I am the only applicant that is a sitting judge that hears adult cases,” she said.

Thirteen candidates applied for three finalist slots Friday during a full day of meetings inside the Rutherford County Courthouse in Murfreesboro.
The next step is apparently a background check by the TBI of all three candidates. It is not known when the candidates will be vetted by the governor’s office or before Gov. Bill Haslam himself.

Don Ash has accepted a new position as senior judge and will be vacating his post as circuit court judge, but it appears his initial assignment as senior judge will be in his current position.