Court says Knox County judge not immune from lawsuit
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – A state appeals court has ruled that a Knox County judge who is being sued by a woman that he fired is not entitled to immunity, because he had not yet been sworn in when he dismissed her.
The Tennessee Court of Appeals ruled that Circuit Court Judge Bill Ailor doesn’t deserve the benefit of immunity because he wasn’t working for the government at the time when he dismissed Judith Moore-Pennoyer.
Court records show that Ailor sacked her one week before he was sworn in as judge. She had been an assistant to former Circuit Court Judge Harold Wimberly, whom Ailor had defeated in an election.
The Tennessee Court of Appeals decision this week upholds a lower court’s ruling.
Public records do not show a phone number for Ailor.
