Hearing for embroiled judge delayed four months

Gloria Dumas

A scheduled medical procedure has delayed the judicial misconduct proceedings of Davidson County General Sessions Judge Gloria Dumas.

On Monday, Judge Don Ash, of the Tennessee Court of the Judiciary, continued Dumas’ trial date nearly four months from April 5 to July 28-30. All parties agreed to the continuance to give both sides more time for the discovery process and to accommodate a March 30 “necessary medical procedure” for Dumas, according to Monday’s filing.

Also, as part of the continuance, counsel for Dumas and the Disciplinary Counsel Joseph Daniel agreed to attend mediation to seek a resolution.

Attorney William Farmer, who represents Dumas along with attorney Ben Cantrell, wouldn’t disclose the nature of the medical procedure but said both sides have tentatively set the mediation date for March 22.

Last September Daniel, at the direction of a three-judge investigative panel of the Court of the Judiciary, brought charges against Dumas, claiming she persistently arrived late to her court sessions, inappropriately used other judges to attend her dockets for her, and hired her daughter as a court officer without the necessary experience or training.