Welcome to a tinkering with Let’s Talk – Law. We are adding (1) a frequent interview with an attorney, and (2) an occasional sound-off by a panel of lawyers on a current topic. This might be fun.

For today, let’s see what former Chancellor Daryl Fansler is up to.

Retired from Bernstein, Stair & McAdams LLP, he is spending time with his family, doing a little fishing and from time-to-time will tackle a mediation case if asked to do so by a former colleague. He and Don Grogan have taken leadership of the Sunday School class formerly taught by the late Dr. Bob Collier at Fountain City Presbyterian Church.

“It’s co-ed and we study a broad range of things. Don and I named the room where we meet “Collier’s Corner.”

To call Fansler’s reelection defeat in 2014 an upset is too mild. Judges just didn’t get beat in Knox County up until that year. Fansler’s other races were unopposed, as were the races of the other chancellors, both Republicans.

“When lawyers and people in the Courthouse started coming up to me (after the election), I had until the end of the month left to serve. It felt like I was in the receiving line at my own funeral. … It was heart-warming to learn how much I was valued.”

Fansler was now a lawyer without clients. After 16 years on the bench, his former law partners had moved on. And Daryl himself had learned new skills. He opted to join the Bernstein law firm where he specialized in mediation.

“Hard work comes easy to me, about 99% of days,” he said. He is currently reading George Washington’s final address. The first president did not favor political parties. Fansler explained that dividing into teams (say red and blue) can cause persons to say, “My team will beat your team or by golly we’ll call you names.”

Fansler reflected on less contentious times “when Senator Baker worked with (House Speaker) Tip O’Neill.” He said his own political views never influenced his decisions on the bench … and as he grows older, his views are shifting a bit anyhow.

Drama: Fansler, elected as a Democrat, was one of three chancellors serving Knox County. He often (volunteered or drew the short straw) to handle the toughest cases and one such case came along in 2006 regarding term limits for certain Knox County officials. Read more here.

Briefly, Fansler ruled that the two-term limits adopted by voters in a 1994 referendum were valid; his ruling was upheld by the state’s appellate courts, resulting in mid-term replacements for Sheriff Tim Hutchison, Register of Deeds Steve Hall, County Clerk Mike Padgett, Trustee Mike Lowe and eight of 19 commissioners.

Bio: Daryl Fansler was in private practice until his election as chancellor in 1998. He was reelected in 2006 but was defeated in 2014 by Republican Clarence “Eddie” Pridemore. Daryl and wife Phyllis have three daughters, Aimee, a teacher; Alison, a nurse; and Sarah, district director for U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett.

In Memoriam

John Valliant

John Peden Valliant Jr., 78, passed away at home on March 29, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Mr. Valliant practiced law in Knoxville for five decades. He was especially skilled at navigating political currents, always maintaining friends in both parties. He chaired the Knox County Democratic Party in 1982. He graduated from Oak Ridge High School and obtained his law degree from the University of Tennessee. John served in the U.S. Army National Guard during the Vietnam War era.

State Rep. Michele Carringer introduced and passed a resolution to honor the memory of Mr. Valliant, “an exemplary public servant and consummate professional who worked assiduously to improve the quality of life for his fellow citizens in numerous capacities.” His obituary is here.

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