Robert Bateman
Robert Bateman is a judge of the 19th Judicial District Circuit Court in Tennessee. He assumed office in 2021. His term ended in 2024.
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Bateman was a 2016 Republican candidate for the Part IV seat on the 19th Circuit Court in Tennessee. He was defeated in the primary election on March 1, 2016.
On August 13, 2021, Bateman was appointed to the Nineteenth Circuit Court by Gov. Bill Lee (R) to replace Jill Ayers.[1]
Education
Bateman graduated from the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System in 1983. He earned a bachelor's of business administration in accounting from Austin Peay State University in 1987. In 1990, he graduated from the Vanderbilt University Law School.[2][3]
Career
Prior to his appointment to the court, Bateman served as attorney in private practice with Bateman & Bateman, P.C. from 1990 to 2021.[2][3]
Campaign themes
2016
The Leaf-Chronicle profiled the candidates for the 19th Circuit Court. The paper asked the candidates, "Why did you decide to run for this office? What is your top goal if you are elected? What are your top platform issues?" Bateman responded:
| “ | After graduating from law school, I chose to come back to my hometown of Clarksville to practice law. Over the past 25 years as a lawyer, I have been fortunate to have handled a wide variety of legal matters and been allowed to represent a range of clients from those who were blessed with wealth to those who were indigent. Just as important as my legal experience is the fact that, like everyone, I have lived life’s triumphs and misfortunes over my 50 years. My legal and life experiences have given me the temperament, judgment and life experiences to serve Montgomery and Robertson County as Circuit Judge.
I have tried both criminal and civil jury trials. I have handled cases in the Circuit, Chancery and General Session Courts of Tennessee and the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee. I have also argued appeals in the Tennessee Court of Appeals, Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals, Tennessee Supreme Court and U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. With my prior legal experience, if elected judge, I will be able to handle cases the first day in office without a learning curve. I have always been a Republican - having served as the Montgomery County Chairperson for Fred Thompson’s U.S. Senate campaigns in 1994 and 1996. Although judicial candidates cannot express opinions on specific topics that may come before them as a judge, I have always been committed to pro-family Republican values. I have been a member of the National Rifle Association since the 1990s.[4] |
” |
| —Robert Bateman (2016)[3] | ||
Elections
2016
Polls
A straw poll conducted prior to the primary election by the Montgomery County Bar Association found Roger Nell and Jill Ayers as the leading candidates in their respective Place III and IV races for the 19th Circuit Court. Fifty-two percent of poll participants favored Nell, while 37 percent favored Ted Crozier Jr. and 10 percent favored Herb Patrick. Ayers, meanwhile, polled at 62 percent in the Part IV race; her challenger, Robert Bateman, followed with 37 percent. The results were published in The Leaf-Chronicle on January 15, 2016.[5]
Selection method
Judges of the circuit court are elected in partisan elections. Each county may opt to hold nonpartisan elections instead. Judges serve eight-year terms, after which they must run for re-election if they wish to continue serving.[6][7]
The presiding judge of each court is elected to a one-year term by peer vote.[8]
Qualifications
To serve on the court, a judge must be:[6]
- authorized to practice law in state;
- a district resident for at least one year;
- a state resident five years; and
- at least 30 years old.
Awards and associations
- Austin Peay State University Tower Club, Member, 1992–Present
- National Rifle Association, 1990s–Present
- Austin Peay State University College of Business Board of Advisors, 2011–2013
- Co Vice-Chairperson, 2011
- By-Laws Revision Committee, 2011
- Leadership Clarksville
- Graduate of class of 1992
- Alumni member, 1992–Present
- Clarksville Noon Rotary Club, Member, 1991–1999
- Board of Trustees, 1994–1996
- American Heart Association Montgomery County Chapter, Clarksville, Tenn., 1994–1995
- Boy Scouts of America Enrollment Committee, Clarksville, Tenn., 1993[2][3]
See also
External links
- Court bio page
- Search Google News for this topic
- Website
- ↑ Office of the Tennessee Governor, "Gov. Lee Announces Key Appointments," August 13, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Bateman for Judge, "Robert Bateman," accessed February 29, 2016
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 The Leaf-Chronicle, "Bateman: Circuit Judge Part IV candidate," January 13, 2016
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ The Leaf-Chronicle, "Jill Bartee Ayers, Roger Nell favorites in poll of judicial races," January 15, 2016
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Tennessee," archived September 11, 2014
- ↑ Justia - Tennessee Code, "16-15-202. Election Term," accessed November 20, 2014
- ↑ Tennessee State Courts, "Understanding Your Court System: A Guide to the Judicial Branch," accessed September 11, 2014
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Footnotes
Federal courts:
Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Tennessee, Middle District of Tennessee, Western District of Tennessee • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Tennessee, Middle District of Tennessee, Western District of Tennessee
State courts:
Tennessee Supreme Court • Tennessee Court of Appeals • Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals • Tennessee Circuit Court • Tennessee Chancery Courts • Tennessee Criminal Court • Tennessee Probate Court • Tennessee General Sessions Court • Tennessee Juvenile Court • Tennessee Municipal Court
State resources:
Courts in Tennessee • Tennessee judicial elections • Judicial selection in Tennessee
