New Judge in town: Robert Headrick named to bench

Photo by Leslie Karnowski

Assistant District Attorney Robert Headrick was chosen to be the new General Session judge in a special called Blount County Commission meeting tonight.

Assistant Blount County District Attorney Robert Headrick will put on the black robe of a judge tomorrow at 10 a.m.

The Blount County Commission tonight chose Headrick over attorney Laura Rule, manager of the Blount County Legal Aid Society office, and attorney Steve Merritt to become the new General Sessions judge, Division IV. Headrick replaces Judge David Duggan, who won his race in August to become the new Circuit Court Division II judge.

Headrick received 15 of the 21 votes, with Commissioners Monika Murrell, Bob Proffitt, Wendy Pitts Reeves, Bob Ramsey and David Ballard voting for Rule. Commissioner Joe McCulley passed.

“This is one of the most important things -- short of the birth of my children -- to happen in my life. I appreciate the commission's confidence in me,” Headrick said.

Headrick will be sworn in Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. in the Division IV courtroom on the third floor of the Blount County Justice Center. A reception will follow.

The commissioners also chose colleagues Steve Samples as their new chairman, Gary Farmer as their chair pro-tem and Mike Lewis as parliamentarian.

Samples won with 16 aye votes and outgoing commissioner Bob Ramsey joked that Samples did better than he ever did. “Congratulations Commissioner Samples, you got more votes than I ever did,” he said.

Samples said he was grateful for the vote. “I hope I do you proud,” Samples said.

The commissioners made the choices in a special called meeting prior to the monthly commission workshop.