Judicial Appointment Council Sends Three Names to Governor for 9th Judicial District Criminal Court Opening

The Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments met today to consider three applicants for the impending criminal court vacancy in the 9th Judicial District, which serves Loudon, Meigs, Morgan, and Roane counties. The seat will become vacant December 31, 2015, when Judge E. Eugene Eblen retires.

The nominees are:

Walter B. Johnson, II
Lenoir City

Porsche Lyn Shantz
Lenoir City

Jeffery H. Wicks
Rockwood

The Council has forwarded the names to Gov. Bill Haslam for his consideration. Any person appointed to serve as judge will do so through August of 2016. An election will be held August 4, 2016 to determine who will serve the remaining six years of the eight-year judicial term. Any person appointed to the position may join the race.