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By Buzz Trexler
Star Correspondent

The Tennessee Supreme Court filed an order Tuesday that dissolves the temporary suspension of Jason Holly’s state license to practice law.

The order, a copy of which Holly emailed to The Star, adopts the Feb. 13 recommendation by a Board of Professional Responsibility hearing panel that the temporary suspension be dissolved.

Holly was reelected as Municipal Court judge in the November General Election, but just weeks prior to the election, the board suspended his law license temporarily, citing a failure to answer three misconduct complaints. Due to his temporary suspension, Holly was unable to hold court.

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.

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

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

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 resumes and accompanying letters of interest from those who wish to be considered for appointment as city judge. The cover letter should give 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 resumes will be given to members of 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.

As of Tuesday morning, the Board of Professional Responsibility’s website continued to list Holly’s status as suspended.