The Tennessee Board of Judicial Conduct issued a public reprimand of Knoxville Municipal Court Judge John R. Rosson, 75, which was published Monday. It reveals that he used a Knoxville courtroom for a campaign press conference before losing his recent re-election bid after more than three decades in office.
In the public reprimand, the board revealed Rosson “held a campaign event” in his courtroom, inviting the media to attend, in which he stood in front of the bench and “accepted an endorsement from a lawyer,” then announced a second endorsement before making what he specifically referred to as a “campaign speech.” Local media reported that both endorsements came from former opponents.
The reprimand also reveals that Rosson (pictured above) took questions from the media at the courtroom campaign event and explains that ethics rules prevent judges from making “make inappropriate use of court premises, staff, stationery, equipment, or other resources,” including for a political campaign.
Rosson was appointed to his position in 1986 and held it for 36 years before losing his re-election bid in October. Citing his experience, the board concluded Rosson “should have known that it was improper to hold a campaign event” in the courtroom. The panel who determined Rosson’s punishment noted he accepted the reprimand, and noted he took full responsibility, “offered no excuses,” and has “no disciplinary history as a judge.”
Shortly after the campaign event, Rosson apologized when questioned by local media, declaring he “did not mean to break any rules” and was unaware of the ethics rules because he had not “run a campaign in 20 years,” calling the ethics rules “just not something I think about.”
The public reprimand letter was dated November 15, just eight days after Rosson lost re-election to 32-year-old Tyler Caviness on November 7.
Rosson revealed he plans to return to private practice after his defeat, with WATE reporting he stated that he plans to represent personal injury clients. The outlet reported that Caviness promised his court will treat “people with compassion, dignity and respect” while “upholding the law.”
Prior to the ill-researched campaign event, Rosson received a traffic citation for driving in the wrong direction on Middle Tennessee interstate on February 28, according to Knox News.
Rosson reportedly told the outlet that he became overwhelmed with the urge to relieve himself while stuck in traffic, and Knox News reported that Rosson admitted to driving along the side of the interstate until he reached an exit ramp, which he used to exit the highway and drive to a nearby gas station.
Citing his age, he told the outlet, “I’m 75 years old and I had to urinate,” and reportedly provided a letter from his urologist which declared Rosson is “unable to sit for longer than 30 minutes without using the restroom.”
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Georgia Star News, The Virginia Star, and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
