Applicants vie for four judgeship vacancies

Hypothetically, any one of us might end up someday swearing to tell the whole truth before one of the following individuals, all of whom have applied for the four available Metro judgeships.

Two Criminal Court judges and one chancellor will join the Metro bench as early as September, and an additional vacancy in Chancery Court left open due to the retirement of Chancellor Irvin Kilcrease will be filled at the same time. Candidates will be privately interviewed by the state Judicial Selection Commission later this month, and public hearings will be held for all candidates on Aug. 21 and 22 for Criminal and Chancery Court applicants, respectively.

The following applicants are those who submitted their applications to the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts by the deadline at the close of business Thursday. Brief professional background information has been provided for those candidates who could be reached by press time Thursday.

Chancery Court applicants

Larry Ashworth

Claudia Bonnyman

University of Tennessee

Vanderbilt University School of Law.

Clerk and Master for Davidson County Chancery Court, 1989-present.

Former Assistant District Attorney.

John M. L. Brown

Vanderbilt University.

Vanderbilt University School of Law.

Private practice 1977-present.

Richard Dinkins

Vanderbilt University School of Law.

Principle at Dodson, Parker, Dinkins & Behm.

Private practice specializing in civil litigation, 1977-present.

Charles A. High

University of Tennessee.

Nashville School of Law.

Disciplinary Counsel, Board of Professional Responsibility, 1989-present.

Private practice, 1979-89.

Donald Hildebrand

Renard Hirsch Sr.

Tennessee State University.

Nashville School of Law.

Partner Smith, Hirsch, Blackshear & Harris.

Private practice, 1984-present.

Chairman, Tennessee Supreme Court council on diversity, 1999.

Associate general counsel, First American Bank, 1981-83.

Alan D. Johnson

Vanderbilt University.

Cumberland School of Law.

Private practice specializing in media and public records issues, 1983-present.

David Randall Kennedy

Middle Tennessee State University.

Nashville School of Law.

Partner, Kennedy & Brown.

Private practice 1977-present.

Stanley Kweller

Emory University.

University of Tennessee School of Law.

Private practice specializing in civil litigation and domestic relations, 1977-present.

David Lyons

University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Nashville School of Law.

Private law practice, McGee & Lyons, general civil litigation and governmental affairs, 1984-present.

Communications director and lobbyist, Tennessee Business Roundtable.

News/political reporter and editor, 1975-84.

Amanda McClendon

Vanderbilt University.

University of Tennessee College of Law.

Private practice 1984-present.

Metro Council representative, 16th District, 1999-present.

John Randolph Miles

University of Tennessee.

University of Tennessee College of Law.

Private practice, 1996-present.

Tennessee Assistant Attorney General, 1992-96.

Tennessee Department of Labor, 1989-91.

Mary Ashley