Governor Phil Bredesen today announced that Fayette County General Sessions Judge J. Weber McCraw will fill a vacancy in part one of the 25th Judicial District's Circuit Court, created by the retirement of Jon Kerry Blackwood of Somerville. The 25th Judicial District Circuit Court covers Fayette, Hardeman, Lauderdale, McNairy and Tipton counties.
"Weber McCraw's 14 years as a General Sessions judge and six years in private practice have given him a broad view of the legal system of the 25th Judicial District," said Bredesen. "Throughout his years practicing law and serving as a county and city judge, McCraw has proven himself dedicated to the constant improvement of the judicial system in Tennessee. I am confident in his skill and knowledge of the law, and appreciate his commitment to serving our state in the Circuit Court."
McCraw, of Braden, has been practicing law for 20 years. He has served as Fayette County General Sessions Judge since 1990, when he won a contested race against the incumbent. He was re-elected to the post in 1998 without opposition. McCraw has also served as appointed city judge for several municipalities in Fayette and Tipton Counties. Prior to that, McCraw worked in private practice at Gordon, Forrester and Whitaker in Covington from 1984 to 1991.
"I'm honored that the Governor has appointed me to this position and appreciate his confidence in me," said McCraw. "I look forward to serving the citizens of the 25th Judicial District."
McCraw, 45, holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and earned his doctor of jurisprudence degree from the Cecil C. Humphrey's School of Law at Memphis State University, Memphis. He is a member of the Tennessee Bar Association and the Fayette and Tipton County Bar Associations. He is also a member of the Tennessee Bar Association's House of Delegates and the Tennessee General Sessions Judges Conference. In 1998, he was one of two juvenile court judges appointed to the Juvenile Justice Reform Commission, charged with reviewing and redrafting Tennessee code sections applicable to juveniles and the juvenile court system. McCraw's appointment is effective immediately, and he will stand for election to a full 8-year term in 2006.