City HallWednesday, November 4
Jackson City Council appoints Caroline Ballentine as the next City Court judge
The Jackson Morning News team
If you've wondered who will take the City Court bench, we have your answer. The Jackson City Council voted Tuesday morning to name assistant public defender Caroline Ballentine as the city's next court judge. She was picked from five applicants who took part in open public interviews before the council.
Ballentine brings 20 years as a public defender
- 20 years
- as a public defender in the 26th Judicial District
- 15,000+
- cases closed out, she told the council
- 5
- applicants interviewed in public
Sources: WBBJ-TV, The Jackson Sun
WNBJ 39 says she won the appointment over Jackson attorney J. Colin Morris, attorney and former circuit court judge Nathan Pride, and family and civil defense attorney Kortney Simmons. Former Madison County General Sessions Court judge J. Mark Patey withdrew his application Monday. The Jackson Sun says the job opened after the death of longtime judge Blake Anderson.
- Term: the seat comes up in the August 2028 election
- Ballentine said yes when asked if she'd run in 2028
- All five candidates said they'd end private practice
- All five said they'd keep environmental court, drug court and the litter program
The seat opened after Judge Blake Anderson's death and runs to the 2028 election
- Sept. 5Judge Blake Anderson dies after nearly three decades on the bench.
- Nov. 2J. Mark Patey withdraws his application for city court judge.
- Nov. 3The council appoints Caroline Ballentine as city court judge.
- Aug. 2028The judge's seat comes up in the election.
Sources: WBBJ-TV, The Jackson Sun
Sources: WBBJ-TV, WNBJ 39, The Jackson Sun