Judge Susano left legacy of hard work, wit

Sandra ClarkObits, West Knox County

Judge Charles D. Susano Jr. passed away on May 7, 2022, at age 86. The family will receive friends in Knoxville on Monday, May 16, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Cathedral Hall at Sacred Heart and the funeral mass will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 17, at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Judge Susano’s complete obituary is here.

Charlie Susano stood out in a Courthouse full of colorful characters. I think it was his partisan glee in one-upping local Republicans. Back in the mid-1980s, Charlie backed a candidate that most thought was a Democrat for an appointment by a Republican-majority Knox County Commission.

Charlie’s candidate won and the commission took a break. I was talking with the late Ralph Teague, who had backed a losing candidate, and watched Charlie look Ralph right in the eye and say, “Well, there’s one good thing. We (the Democrats) won’t be fielding an opponent” in the next election.

Sly grin from Susano; steam from ears of Teague. Just another day at the Courthouse.

Susano was a leading lawyer in Knoxville until he was appointed in 1994 by then-Gov. Ned McWherter to serve on the state Court of Appeals. He went on to win four statewide elections, retiring in April 2020 after serving 25 years. He was replaced on the Court of Appeals by Knox County Circuit Court Judge Kristi Davis, who was appointed by Gov. Bill Lee.

Rest in peace, Judge Susano.

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