Mike Hammond, clerk of criminal general session, criminal courts and fourth circuit (divorce and orders of protection), said he was proud to participate in a recent CLE hosted by the Knoxville Bar Association Barristers CLE Committee on “General Sessions Court Practice: Unwritten Rules and Clerk’s Office Ins & Outs.”
We went looking for “the secrets of session court,” but alas, Mike was playing it straight.
“Last year in criminal sessions court approximately 60,000 people came through our courts. Sessions hears everything from littering on the sidewalk to first degree murder. We wanted the bar association to better understand how the clerk’s office works from docket to disposition.
“Also, collection of monies. It was very helpful, good questions were asked, and most of the attendees gave the session high marks.”
Paws off our sheriff
Brent Gibson
I’m encouraging folks to call the TN Republican Party headquarters (615-269-4260) before Wednesday to voice concern about possible dabbling into the Knox County sheriff’s race.
The 66-member State Executive Committee, acting as the Republican Primary Board, will meet on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. EDT (5:30 p.m. CDT) to hear from Mike Davis, candidate for sheriff who did not win. Here are the votes from May 5, 2026.
The results of the Knox County Sheriff Primary:
- Brent Gibson – 19,676 (44.14%)
- David Amburn – 13,446 (30.16%)
- Mike Davis – 6,330 (14.20%)
- J.J. Jones – 5,124 (11.50%)
On May 14, indictments were handed down against 11 individuals with connections to the Sheriff’s Office, including David Amburn and former Sheriff J.J. Jones.
Mike Davis, who finished third on May 5, filed an election contest with the TN Republican Party State Primary Board. Davis says the indictments of two of the candidates has “irrevocably tainted the election.” Davis wants the Primary Board to order a new election.
The state party says it lacks the authority to order a new primary election to take place prior to, or on the general election ballot. It offers three choices:
- Let the election stand with Brent Gibson as the Republican nominee
- Choose another candidate among the candidates and award them the Republican nomination
- Vacate the election entirely, leaving no Republican nominee for the general election
Voters selected their nominee – Brent Gibson. The state party should accept this and move on.
The meeting will be streamed for those who want to watch. I’m going to use the link at 5:30. Here’s the link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87886296291
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The Republican Party isn’t going to do anything other than hear the grievance. That said, a Grand Jury found enough evidence to bring an Indictment against the former Sheriff and associates. If I were fixing to marry , I’d kinda like to know everything pending.
This is stupid. Davis lost BEFORE the indictments came down. Those had no effect on the election results. He’s a sore loser and needs to worry about his upcoming court case.
Michael: I agree. This election was not close. Plus, indictments are not convictions. It would have been unfair to Jones and Amburn to have unsealed the indictments prior to the election.