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Associated Press - December 26, 2009 12:45 PM ET
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) - A state wildlife spokesman says its officers regularly send their cases to judges familiar with hunting, fishing and boating laws.
A Chattanooga lawyer this week subpoenaed two judges, 1 of them an avid hunter, for a hearing that claims Tennessee wildlife officers routinely "judge shop" their cases.
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency officer Dan Hicks, who works in the Crossville office, told The Chattanooga Times Free Press on Wednesday that "wildlife laws are very different than other (laws)" and it was "common sense" to send cases to judges who know the laws.
Defense attorney Jerry Summers claims that his client, Gary Wayne McCullough, did not receive a fair hearing in General Sessions court on charge of boating under the influence because of "judge shopping" by the agency.
Information from: Chattanooga Times Free Press, http://www.timesfreepress.com
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