Can Mary Ward Serve Knoxville as Municipal Judge?

The City of Knoxville Charter states that a Municipal Judge must be a resident of Knoxville for three years. Attorney Mary Wade qualified yesterday, however her current Knoxville residence shows she bought it on February 22, 2023.

Ward’s voting record shows she has voted in Town of Farragut, no votes in the City of Knoxville. So, I don’t know where she has lived the last three years, but if it was not in Knoxville, I would suspect she could be challenged by Judge John Rosson, Jr., Andrew Beamer and/or Tyler Caviness.

The Charter provision of the Municipal Judge is below.

501. – Creation; election of judge, qualification.

There is hereby created a municipal court for the City of Knoxville. There shall be a judge of the municipal court of said city who shall be elected by the qualified voters of said city, and shall hold office for a term of four (4) years, and until a successor is elected and qualified. Said judge shall be not less than thirty (30) years old, and shall have been a resident of said city for three (3) years immediately prior to election, and shall be licensed to practice law in the State of Tennessee.


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