Judiciary Mourns Loss of Former Judge James "Buddy" Scott

The Honorable James B. “Buddy” Scott, Jr., age 83, of Oak Ridge passed away on Thursday, May 9, 2019. Judge Scott became the Anderson County Circuit and Criminal Court Judge in 1978 and was reelected every election thereafter until retirement in 2005. Prior to becoming Judge, he served as the Assistant District Attorney General for Roane, Loudon, Blount, Meigs, and Morgan Counties. In 1971, he was elected as a delegate to the State Constitutional Convention representing Roane and Anderson Counties, where he became chairman of the drafting committee responsible for writing the amendment to the Tennessee Constitution on taxation. In 1973, he became the Assistant District Attorney for Anderson, Scott, Campbell, Union, Fentress, and Claiborne Counties. In 1976 he was elected District Attorney General for the Seventh Judicial District which consisted solely of Anderson County. While Attorney General, he was instrumental in the passage of Tennessee’s vehicular homicide law. 

He served as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Museum of Appalachia and was Chairman of the Committee of Governmental Affairs for the Anderson County Chamber of Commerce. He was born in Charleston, West Virginia on November 7, 1935, the son of James Beveridge and Mary Ann Scott. He moved to Oak Ridge at the age of 8 and graduated from Oak Ridge High School in 1954. Following high school, he began college at The University of Tennessee after receiving a football scholarship. He graduated from The University of Tennessee School of Law in 1965. He is survived by his wife Mildred Kidwell Scott of Oak Ridge; son James K. “Jim” Scott of Knoxville, and his two sons Jack and Sam Scott; daughter Dana Pemberton (Judge Mike Pemberton) of Rockwood, and their son Michael Pemberton; and daughter Annie Duncan (Jeremy Duncan) of Knoxville, and their daughter Drew Duncan and son John Duncan. He is also survived by his sister, Frances Crisp, and many nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his parents, sister Sally Josenhans, and an infant sister.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 16, 2019 at Weatherford Mortuary in Oak Ridge. The funeral will follow with Dr. Larry Blakeburn officiating. Burial will occur on Friday, May 17, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at the Lawnville Cemetery, located next to Young’s Chapel Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1705 Lawnville Road, Kingston, Tennessee. In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to the American Heart Association at www.2heart.org or 10 Glenlake Parkway, NE South Tower, Suite 400, Atlanta, GA, 30328. An online guest book can be signed at www.weatherfordmortuary.com.

Read the Knoxville News Sentinel story on Judge Scott's career.