Judge Young's facts disputed

Dear Editor:

Judge Young's April 27th letter criticizing Judge Meares was wrong! You should have checked the facts before you published it.

The statistics were wrong! His letter states, " ... don't take my word for it, the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts keep detailed and accurate records, all available to the public." The quoted records actually show that in nine months under Judge Meares' supervision the Criminal Division disposed of 114 more matters than were filed. These records also show that during the 12 months before Judge meares took office there was a build up of 106 more filings than the court was able to close.

For Judge Young to say he was not endorsing either candidate was wrong! The public records show that Judge Young has made a $1,000 contribution to Judge Duggan's current campaign. You should have remembered their cozy relationship you reported in 1998; "School board attorney David Duggan and Maryville attorney Jerry Cunningham are also soliciting endorsements for Young." (Daily Times, June 10, 1998)

In his letter, Judge Young quoted statistics that include misdemeanors, probation violations, guilty pleas and cased transferred to another court. He knows full well that such statistics are not a reliable gauge of judicial performance. Ask Judge Young about the 202 pending cases that Judge Meares was handed when he took office; cases, more than a year old, in which the defendants had not yet been served. Ask Judge Young to compare the number of jury trials completed in Judge Meares' court with any other Blount County Court. Or better yet, do a little investigative reporting yourself.

To offer his purported memory of statements made by Mrs. Meares, a Blount County lawyer herself, was wrong. He should have known that no member of Judge Meares' family would engage in a "he said, she said" debate.

I am a member of that family. We are proud of his and our reputation. We are also proud of the American system of courts and the concept of equal justice for all.

I am proud of my brother, Judge Meares, because he has succeeded so well in managing the criminal case load that he is in a position to help his fellow circuit judge with the civil caseload. I am proud that my brother has acknowledged that his opponent David Duggan is a hard working effective general sessions court judge. I am proud that David Duggan has thus far run an honorable campaign recognizing my brother as a good, hard-working effective circuit judge.

Yet, I am most proud of my brother because he has refused to play the "good ole boy" game and has demonstrated that so long as he is judge no litigant and no lawyer will have any reason to say Judge Meares is beholden to any particular law firm. It took guts for him to refuse lawyer contributions.

It would surprise and disappoint me if Judge Duggan had anything to do with Judge Young's letter to your paper. I expect Judge Duggan will immediately and publicly disassociate himself from Judge Young's accusations and acknowledge that Judge Meares has effectively reduced the criminal case back log.

The real issue in this campaign is which candidate is best able to restore the confidence in the fair and impartial administration of justice for all Blount County citizens. Judge Young's scandalous letter has added a dimension to the debate which only candidate Duggan can remove.

Rom Meares

405 Bethel Church Road

Townsend, TN 37882