Three distinguished legal professionals are being considered for a vacancy on the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals for East Tennessee: Knox County Criminal Court Judge Steve Sword, defense attorney Bryce McKenzie, and defense attorney Willie Santana.
The Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments will evaluate the candidates during a public hearing scheduled for December 5 at 10:30 a.m. at the Tennessee Supreme Court Building in Knoxville. Governor Bill Lee will make the final appointment decision.
Judge Sword, appointed in 2011 by Governor Bill Haslam, is a former Knox County prosecutor known for handling high-profile cases, including those of Joel Guy Jr. and Norman Clark. In his application, Sword emphasized his commitment to upholding the law despite personal challenges, referencing a case where he received backlash over a sentence he felt bound by law to impose, despite his personal inclination for a harsher penalty.
Bryce McKenzie, a Sevier County attorney with Delius & McKenzie, previously clerked for the late Judge Curwood Witt, whom he now hopes to succeed. McKenzie underscored his belief in a judge’s duty to apply, not make, law, noting that he regularly counsels clients against legally unsupported courses of action.
Willie Santana, currently an assistant federal defender in Greeneville, has also served as a public defender, prosecutor, and visiting law professor. Santana expressed a deep respect for the rule of law, formed through his experiences on both sides of the justice system, highlighting his dedication to unbiased application of the law regardless of personal opinions.
This hearing is open to the public, providing an opportunity for the community to hear each candidate’s vision for upholding Tennessee’s judicial standards.