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By Buzz Trexler
Star Correspondent

In accordance with the Elizabethton City Charter, which declares a vacancy exists if the city judge has been “continuously disabled for a period of three months,” City Council members on Thursday night moved unanimously to fill the vacancy “in an orderly and deliberate way.”

Jason Holly, who was reelected as municipal court judge in the November general election, has been unable to hold court for three continuous months due to the temporary suspension of his law license by the Tennessee Supreme Court Board of Professional Responsibility (BPR).

Prior to the vote, City Attorney Roger G. Day informed the City Council that about two hours before the meeting, Holly texted him a document that was filed Thursday whereby a BPR hearing panel had recommended his temporary suspension be resolved. (Holly also emailed a copy of the document to The Star.) The state court still must rule on the recommendation.

Under the charter, the City Council is charged with filling the vacancy by a majority vote, and the appointee will serve until the next regular city or county election, which will take place in 2026. The city clerk will accept résumés and accompanying letters of interest from those who wish to be considered for appointment as city judge. The cover letter should provide sufficient information to show the candidate meets the qualifications under the charter, which states a city judge shall be licensed to practice law in the state of Tennessee. The deadline is noon, Feb. 28.

Copies of qualified résumés will be given to members of the City Council for individual review, and the appointment of an interim city judge will appear on the agenda for the regular meeting in March, during which the mayor will also take nominations from the floor.

The Supreme Court of Tennessee’s Board of Professional Responsibility suspended Holly’s law license temporarily on Oct. 28, 2024, due to his failure to answer three misconduct complaints. As of early Friday morning, the board’s website continued to list Holly’s status as suspended.

On Dec. 12, Elizabethton City Council unanimously approved 1st Judicial District Criminal Court Judge Stacy L. Street as acting Elizabethton Municipal Court judge. Council members took the action in accordance with the City Charter, which provides for the appointment of an acting city judge due to the absence or inability of the city judge to serve.

During Thursday night’s meeting, the City Council also approved on first reading an amendment to the city ordinance on the order of business for regular meetings to include a section, “Consent Agenda,” to be inserted before “Old Business.” The consent agenda section will consolidate into one grouping routine items where no discussion is anticipated. If approved on second reading, the consent agenda section will be included in the April meeting agenda.