County prosecutor announces his candidacy for judge
Boyd Patterson is running for Hamilton County Criminal Court judge.
Patterson, a prosecutor and former coordinator of the Gang Task Force, officially announced his candidacy Monday. He joins Judge Tom Greenholtz and Assistant Public Defender Mike Little in the primary election race on March 1.
In a news release, Patterson said his 25 years of experience in law and psychology helped create his unique perspective on criminal justice. His work with the Gang Task Force, which was replaced by Mayor Andy Berke’s Violence Reduction Initiative, focused on crime suppression and keeping at- risk youth out of
the court system, the release said.
“Boyd ’ s extensive criminal trial experience, scholarly legal publications and years of public service make him uniquely qualified to continue serving the residents of Hamilton County,” said Jay Hudson, treasurer for the Committee to Elect Boyd Patterson. “I am proud to support Boyd Patterson for Criminal Court judge.”
Patterson has taken a stab at judicial seats before. In 2013, the Tennessee Judicial Nominating Commission included Patterson’s name on a list for Gov. Bill Haslam for an opening in the Eastern Section of the Court of Criminal Appeals.
Pat terson, who began as a prosecutor in Hamilton County in 2002, said he believes tremendous opportunities exist to positively impact the community through the Criminal Court judgeship.
“I want voters to know that I am committed to making a difference and will work for people to ensure our criminal court system is fair and efficient,” he said in the news release.
Patterson and his wife, Nancy, met while they were students at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, the release says. They’ve been married 21 years, have two children and live in Hixson, where they attend St. Jude Catholic Church.
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