Sun
Jan 14 2007
07:55 am
Registrar of Deeds Steve Hall says he will fight ruling
By: R. Neal

Knox County Registrar of Deeds Steve Hall says in the Knoxville News Sentinel that he and other fee officeholders are considering a federal lawsuit opposing the Tennessee Supreme Court term limits ruling that removes him from office.

It's not clear what the basis for such a lawsuit would be, or if there is a federal issue involved. Presumably it would be based on violation of due process under the U.S. Constitution as asserted in the original lawsuit.

This might not get much traction, however, because the case has had plenty of process, and the Tennessee Supreme Court ruling clearly states that "it is our conclusion that the term limits amendment meets due process guidelines," and that the "term limits amendment, enacted under the de facto charter, meets standards of due process and must be upheld as a component of the governmental unit."

But there is, of course, precedent for the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene and overturn state supreme court decisions on similar 14th Amendment grounds.

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Number9's picture

Why have laws, if the people in government refuse to follow them

Submitted by Number9 on Sun, 2007/01/14 - 9:01am.

Why is it that these people cannot obey the law? Knox County seems to be a Feudal Oligarchy.

Scott1202's picture

Steve Hall's own words ring true.

Submitted by Scott1202 on Sun, 2007/01/14 - 9:56am.

I believe Register Steve Hall was quoted by the KNS in the not so distant past as saying" A sore loser is still a loser".

Pickens's picture

hang it up

Submitted by Pickens on Sun, 2007/01/14 - 1:07pm.

These folks need to hang it up. Soon.

kbarry's picture

Press Release: Register of Deeds Candidate

Submitted by kbarry on Sun, 2007/01/14 - 2:51pm.

For Immediate Release

1/14/07

Register of Deeds Candidate Asks County Commission “Don’t Disenfranchise Knox County Voters”.

Scott Emge, last year’s candidate for Knox County Register of Deeds, said that the recent ruling handed down from the State Supreme Court was a victory for Knox County voters.

“This ruling also vindicates me and all the other candidates who campaigned last year on the term limits issue”. He goes on to say, “The courts’ ruling was fair and just. A special election is the best way to fill the vacancies long term and should be carried out during the 2008 election cycle. In the meantime, Knox County Commission is required by law to fill those vacancies as quickly as possible”. Emge says “One thing that I’m afraid of is that these positions will be filled with cronies, friends or family members through backroom deals rather than people who legally qualified, ran campaigns, and received thousands of votes from the people of Knox County. The Knox County Commission should follow the State Supreme Court’s example and let the will of the voters rule in choosing the replacements for the vacancies. Candidates who ran against these ousted office holders and received the next highest vote totals from the general election should be chosen to fill the slots. 15,332 voters chose me for Register of Deeds, 23,134 folks chose Randy Tyree for Sheriff, 3,458 chose Tom Salter for 5th Dist C, 2,591 wanted Elaine Davis for 4rth Dist. B, 780 for Amy Broyles 2nd Dist. A, 682 for Nick Della Volpe 1st Dist. A, among others. With all due respect to the county commission, all these votes total a lot more than any the commission can cast, and if they ignore these numbers they will be disenfranchising tens of thousands of Knox County Voters” Emge said. There have been valid concerns expressed by some on the county commission that hourly employees that work hard every day in the fee offices might lose their jobs. “It would be not only wrong but ridiculous to let any of these hard working folks go. They are the ones doing all of the work in these offices and making sure that things get done. I know I wouldn’t fire anyone in the Register’s office who is doing the county’s work” Emge said.

cafkia's picture

an encouragement to commit violence

Submitted by cafkia on Mon, 2007/01/15 - 7:28am.

It is the patriotic duty of all citizens to forthwith, smack the shit out of any republican who utters the phrase "states rights".

CAFKIA

----------------------------------------------------------- 

It is impossible to defeat an ignorant man in argument.
  - William G. McAdoo

Johnny Ringo's picture

Does this apply to everyone?

Submitted by Johnny Ringo on Mon, 2007/01/15 - 8:38am.

It is the patriotic duty of all citizens to forthwith, smack the shit out of any republican who utters the phrase "states rights".

Does this duty apply to states' rights Democrats as well?

cafkia's picture

No

Submitted by cafkia on Mon, 2007/01/15 - 6:59pm.

No. I do not have any handy examples of states rights dems who want the federal court to get involved whenever things don't go the way they want them to. YMMV

CAFKIA

----------------------------------------------------------- 

It is impossible to defeat an ignorant man in argument.
  - William G. McAdoo

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