On Thursday Knoxville City will meet and will review the applications of all the attorneys that have applied for the position of City Council Attorney. Charles Swanson who served as Council Attorney for more than 20 years has stepped down to accept the position of Knoxville Law Director with Madame Mayor Madeline administration.
Adrienne Anderson & Amanda Busby: Both of these ladies have submitted resumes and qualifications asking City Council to consider their law firm. This is a good idea, you are getting 2 for the price of 1.
W. Mitchell Cramer: Mr. Cramer has been practicing law with Norton, Spangler & Cramer since 1991. He was with Rowland & Rowland from 1982-1991. He also served as City Attorney and Deputy Law Director for the City of Knoxville from 1973-1982.
Melanie E. Davis: Mrs. Davis is with the Maryville firm of Kizer & Black. Since 1999, Davis has served as Attorney for the City of Maryville and Maryville City Schools.
David L. Dothard: Since May of 2010 he has been a partner with Breeding & Dothard, LLC. In his cover letter and as his two references he list Marshall Stair and Mark Campen. Obviously, with Councilmen Stair and Campen, Dothard should have an advantage.
Kathryn St. Clair Ellis: Ellis has a very detailed resume. She has worked with Farmer & Dreiser and before that with the Tony Farmer Law Firm. Ellis holds a Ph.D. in History from UT Knoxville as well as a Juris Doctor from UT Knoxville College of Law. Ellis has a B.A., cum laude, in History and Political Science from James Madison University.
Robert Frost, Jr.: Former Knoxville City Council Member 2001-2009; licensed to practice since 1996; Frost has been practicing with Arnett, Draper & Hagood since 2006. He once served as legal counsel to the former Halls Shopper News before the acquisition by E.W. Scripps Company.
Wm. Gregory Hall, Jr.: Hall is a sole practitioner and prior to 2009 practiced with the firm of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, P.C. He has served as President of Nucleus Knoxville as well as other community organizations.
J. Thomas Jones: Jones has been practicing since 1996 with Jones, Meadows & Wall, PLLC. He served as Chair (2007-2009) of the Knoxville Utilities Board.
Michael S. Kelley: Former Knoxville Law Director during the Victor Ashe Administration. His father (Paul) is a former member of the Knox County School Board and his mother (Norma) was profiled in a campaign commercial for Madame Mayor Madeline this last year. The Knox County School Board employed Kelley to assist with the contract negotiations for the new Carter Elementary School last year. Clearly, Kelley has the “connections” in the political and city backrooms to navigate the contract as Council Attorney.
Jason H. Long: Has practiced with London & Amburn since 2002. Serves on the Adjunct Faculty of the Unoversity of Tennessee College of Law since 2000. Has been licensed to practice since 1996.
Thomas G. McCroskey: Obtained his law degree from University of Tennessee College of Law in 1990. He served with Southern Title Insurance as Vice President and Senior Underwriting Counsel from June 2004 – September 2011.
Arun Rattan: Has been licensed to practice law since 2007. He has served as a Hearing Officer with the Department of Human Services.
George T. Underwood, Jr.: Mr. Underwood served as an Assistant City Attorney under Law Director Thomas A. Varlan during the Victor Ashe administration. Varlan is now a federal judge. Underwood has an extensive background of legal, community and non profit experience. Two of his references are The Honorable Thomas A. Varlan, Judge United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee and The Honorable John R. Rosson, Jr. Judge City of Knoxville Muncipal Court. I don’t know a lot about Varlan. But a friend of Judge Rosson’s is a friend of mine.
Shelby R.B. Ward: Mrs. Ward received her law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law last year. She has worked at the Knox County Public Defender’s Office and the United States Attorneys’ Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee.
John F. Weaver, Jr.: Completed his J.D. from the University of Tennessee College of Law in five semesters instead of six with honors. He presently serves as General Corporate Counsel for RenaissancePG, LLC
Stephen R. Wise: Wise obtained his J.D. from University of Tennessee College of Law in 1978. He has a founding member of Wise & Reeves, P.C. in May 1995. He serves as Counsel to Knoxville/Knox County Metropolitan Planning Commission since 1987.
I practice in Maryville, so I don't know all the players/applicants, but here is what I do know.
I have the highest regard for Melanie Davis and Jason Long. Each have worked under the highest quality mentors and have ethical standards that are simply beyond question.
I have a case with Underwood and can't figure him out….though he is probably a wonderful attorney and gentleman and both of his references make me reconsider the way that I have taken some of Mr. Underwood's actions….for the better.
I hadn't heard from McCroskey since he ran (obviously unsuccessfully) for Sessions Judge in Blount County, but he is a genuinely nice man. When he was first getting started he worked with Frank Bird and Bob Navratil, who were the finest attorneys and gentlemen one could ever hope to meet.
I suppose I would say that any friend of John Rosson, Jim London (and Dale Amburn), David (and Marty) Black, Frank Bird (and Bob Navratil) is a friend of mine!
Doesn't narrow the field very much though, does it?
No that does not reduce the field. But it is good to know that some of the ones I didn't know are good people. Yes, Jim London is a good guy too, I concur with you on that one. Too bad we couldn't get Rob Huddleston to apply. All the others would drop out. LOL
Brian, for what it's worth, I've taken a new position in private practice and shall be removing my name from the hat. Good crowd though.