General Sessions Court Judge David Norton has kicked off his campaign to retain the Hamilton County General Sessions Court judgeship to which he was appointed in early March.

He is serving in the Court’s Division V, where the February death of Judge Bob Moon created a vacancy. Judge Norton’s appointment runs until the countywide general election scheduled for Aug.

2. The winner of the election will serve until 2014.

“Having served for many years as an elected municipal judge and many times as a special judge in General Sessions, I have often considered moving into a formal County judgeship,” said Judge Norton. “I mourn Judge Moon, but am appreciative of the opportunity to serve out his term. I am working hard to uphold the responsibilities of a General Sessions Court Judge and trust that my fellow citizens of Hamilton County will take note of my commitment to the job when they go to the polls.”

Judge Norton is a native of Hamilton County, having grown up in Red Bank. He graduated from Red Bank High School in 1964 and earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. After attending law school at Memphis State University (now The University of Memphis), he returned to Chattanooga in 1977 to practice law.

 

After seven years of private practice, he began his tenure in local government. He became assistant Hamilton County attorney in 1984, serving in that position until his appointment as General Sessions Court Judge in March 2012. Judge Norton also served for many years as a commissioner for the Hixson Utility District, and was appointed by the last four Tennessee governors to the State Utility Management Review Board. (Per state law, Judge Norton was obligated to leave all three of these positions in order to accept the appointment to fill Judge Moon’s General Sessions seat.)

 

He sought the position of Soddy Daisy city judge when that seat became vacant in 1985. Initially appointed to an unfilled term, he won the seat by public election in 1990, 1998 and 2006, serving continuously until his recent appointment as General Sessions Judge.

 

Judge Norton and his wife, Cathy, reside in Middle Valley. They share five children - Parker (Suzie) Norton, Kaylie (Brad) Lumley, Lyndsey Norton, Amy (Matthew) Brown and Cary (Greg) Bates - and six grandchildren. The Nortons are members of Dallas Bay Baptist Church.

 

General Sessions judgeships are non-partisan positions. Early voting in the countywide general election runs from July 13-28.