Tennessee Supreme Court to decide on residency
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – A case before the state Supreme Court could help determine when residency challenges for judicial candidates can be considered.
The Knoxville News Sentinel (http://bit.ly/2cNrQQ8) reports that the case heard by the high court relates to a challenge filed by Roane County attorney Tom McFarland, who lost a circuit judge election two years ago to opponent Michael Pemberton who allegedly lived outside the judicial district.
The Tennessee Constitution requires circuit court candidates to live in the district for at least a year before the election. Pemberton had bought a lakefront home in Roane County the year before the vote, but still had a home and business in Knox County, where his son also attended school.
Pemberton’s attorneys argue McFarland should have raised his challenge during the campaign, not after he lost.
