Tue
Sep 16 2014
04:30 pm
Interesting background on new Attorney General
By: R. Neal

TNDP Chair Roy Herron issued a statement saying there are "unique facts that cause concerns to many" regarding new Attorney General Herb Slattery. Read more in the full statement after the break...

DEMOCRATIC CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT ON NEW ATTORNEY GENERAL

Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Roy Herron released the following statement regarding the appointment of Herb Slattery as Attorney General for the State of Tennessee:

“Tennessee has had outstanding Attorneys General and we hope that the new one is no exception. He comes to office with a number of unique facts that cause concerns to many, regardless of party affiliation:

“1. Tennessee has never had an Attorney General with so little experience trying cases. Though his application asked for numbers of cases tried or mediated or handed on appeal, he has so little litigation experience he refused to answer the questions asked. To head the largest collection of trial attorneys in the state is a challenge for anyone with great experience, but for someone with so little experience in litigation that he would not answer the questions about numbers of cases raises legitimate concerns.

“2. Tennessee has never had an Attorney General who was not only the Governor's legal counsel, but also his "childhood friend," reportedly a cousin, personal legal counsel, campaign counsel and campaign official. He will face extraordinary scrutiny because of the extraordinary relationships and people will reasonably wonder whether he can be objective and unbiased.

“3. Tennessee has never had an Attorney General who bragged in his application about crafting and lobbying legislation to take the rights away from victims, including those injured by the negligence of others and those workers injured on their jobs. Workers and victims already know that he has worked hard against them and will reasonably question whether he can be fair to them.

“Tennesseans of both parties reasonably wonder why an outstanding Attorney General was denied an opportunity to continue to serve. It appears to many that General Cooper's party affiliation was used against him. That is yet another reason why the new Attorney General has a particular responsibility to show himself beyond reproach, non-partisan, and worthy of the high office he will assume.”

Topics:
Mello's picture

Correction Corps

Submitted by Mello on Tue, 2014/09/16 - 6:03pm.

Did anyone notice the CCA "income by spouse" on the state filings?
Ack.. if Cooper had resigned this all would have just been expected. It just seems to me like they fired Cooper after all that bullshat about politics outta the courts blah, blah, blah.

Hildegard's picture

Number 3 is the only

Submitted by Hildegard on Tue, 2014/09/16 - 7:10pm.

Number 3 is the only legitimate complaint. As to No. 1, I don't think trial experience really matters for the State AG, who really functions more to address questions of law. I don't know anything about his qualifications on that level, but if the Supreme Court is allowing him to be AG, he must pass muster on an intellectual level, which is what really counts. As to No. 3, I didn't hear Democrats complain about Bobby Kennedy being his brother's AG. I don't like nepotism in politics either, but it happens in both parties all the time, so that gripe is disingenuous.

Rachel's picture

I'm assuming your last bit is

Submitted by Rachel on Tue, 2014/09/16 - 8:24pm.
(in reply to Hildegard)

I'm assuming your last bit is about #2. I agree with you.

And I'm not the least bit surprised the Court chose Slatery. It's a way to get Ramsey off their backs w/o really giving him any power.

Hildegard's picture

Yeah, I tried to go back and

Submitted by Hildegard on Tue, 2014/09/16 - 8:42pm.
(in reply to Rachel)

Yeah, I tried to go back and edit that but for some I can't.

fischbobber's picture

As to No. 3, I didn't hear Democrats complain about Bobby Kenned

Submitted by fischbobber on Wed, 2014/09/17 - 1:03am.
(in reply to Hildegard)

Have I missed something? Is there a school of thought that Slattery is the brightest bulb on the Haslam political tree? Or even one that lights up?

Rachel's picture

Yes, you missed what Hilde

Submitted by Rachel on Wed, 2014/09/17 - 9:55am.
(in reply to fischbobber)

Yes, you missed what Hilde said.

fischbobber's picture

I'll stand by my point.

Submitted by fischbobber on Wed, 2014/09/17 - 12:03pm.
(in reply to Rachel)

Herb Slatery is no Bobby Kennedy.

I'll be polite and say that that was quite a stretch at every imaginable level.

Hildegard's picture

No shit, really?

Submitted by Hildegard on Wed, 2014/09/17 - 3:07pm.
(in reply to fischbobber)

You did not get my point at all, and I am not going to spend ten minutes trying to restate it so that you get it.

Oh, and thank you for being polite. I don't know how I'd survive if you were ever cross with me.

fischbobber's picture

Valid comparison

Submitted by fischbobber on Fri, 2014/09/19 - 1:10am.
(in reply to Hildegard)

It's a valid comparison in the same sense that comparing the ACA to the Holocaust is a fair comparison. A government mandate is a government mandate is just like nepotism is nepotism, right?

Bobby had a tad more going for him than just hiding his brothers assets from pesky reporters that might be looking for conflicts of interest.

Here's a couple links for those who think he did nothing to earn the position:

(link...)

(link...)

I'd post some links to show that Slatery to Kennedy is a valid analogy, but there are none. The closest one is likely to find is Slatery's role in dismantling our workman's comp laws.There is this; (link...)

The point was so vastly overstated it was intellectually dishonest. Just like the Holocaust to ACA comparison.

(link...)

Hildegard's picture

You keep replying to me,

Submitted by Hildegard on Fri, 2014/09/19 - 7:32am.
(in reply to fischbobber)

You keep replying to me, which suggests you still seem to think you and I were talking about the same thing. We were, and are, not.

Bbeanster's picture

but if the Supreme Court is

Submitted by Bbeanster on Wed, 2014/09/17 - 10:19am.
(in reply to Hildegard)

but if the Supreme Court is allowing him to be AG, he must pass muster on an intellectual level, which is what really counts.

Nah.
This was straight-up political deal-cutting. Note Haslam stood silent re the appellate courts during the fray of the elections. This is his pay-back. Had nothing to do with intellectual capacity or legal acumen.

Turd Burglar's picture

Not sure why you folks feel

Submitted by Turd Burglar (not verified) on Tue, 2014/09/16 - 7:12pm.

Not sure why you folks feel like you deserve this office considering the entire state voters are slowly but surely running (D)s out of every single elected office possible.

Andy Axel's picture

In most civilized parts of

Submitted by Andy Axel on Wed, 2014/09/17 - 11:09am.
(in reply to Turd Burglar)

In most civilized parts of the republic, AG is an elected position. But since we live in the State Of Corruption, there is only one non-federal statewide elected post.

Turd Burglar's picture

LOL

Submitted by Turd Burglar (not verified) on Wed, 2014/09/17 - 10:24pm.
(in reply to Andy Axel)

So, you think if it were elected in would be in your hands ??

And where was the bitching and moaning the last century ?

Andy Axel's picture

No, and go do your own

Submitted by Andy Axel on Thu, 2014/09/18 - 10:13am.
(in reply to Turd Burglar)

No, and go do your own work.

But I'm glad you think that the patronage system in this state is so funny. The joke's on you, honestly.

Bbeanster's picture

Slatery respresented a city

Submitted by Bbeanster on Tue, 2014/09/16 - 9:15pm.

Slatery respresented a city board that I sometimes covered years ago (I think it was the IDB). I thought he was an appalling hack who never saw a deal he wouldn't approve.

Turd Burglar's picture

My, the media certainly find

Submitted by Turd Burglar (not verified) on Wed, 2014/09/17 - 10:25pm.
(in reply to Bbeanster)

My, the media certainly find this page friendly. Anyone got a Humphrey On The Hill article to share ?

Average Guy's picture

Hey Roy!

Submitted by Average Guy on Tue, 2014/09/16 - 10:05pm.

Nice to hear from ya!

Maybe next time you get concerned, we'll hear from you when it matters.

S Carpenter's picture

no cases

Submitted by S Carpenter on Wed, 2014/09/17 - 12:52pm.

From my 5 minute search of Westlaw, I find exactly ZERO cases that bear his name in any capacity. Boy, is that about to change.

Knoxoasis's picture

Irrelevant really. Hildy is

Submitted by Knoxoasis on Wed, 2014/09/17 - 12:57pm.
(in reply to S Carpenter)

Irrelevant really. Hildy is right that it isn't a litigation position. Lots and lots of lawyers never see the inside of a courtroom, and it is highly unlikely that the AG ever will either, except perhaps nominally. He will have staff for that. His duty will be to advise the government and oversee staff and make policy decisions. None of that requires courtroom experience.

S Carpenter's picture

I said zero appeals, didn't

Submitted by S Carpenter on Wed, 2014/09/17 - 10:51pm.
(in reply to Knoxoasis)

I said zero appeals, didn't say anything about trial work.

He only runs the appellate division for all state criminal cases and all civil cases involving the state. Why should he have _any_ experience doing them?

Knoxoasis's picture

Because the AG is an

Submitted by Knoxoasis on Thu, 2014/09/18 - 6:34am.
(in reply to S Carpenter)

Because the AG is an administrator and a policy maker. The President is Commander in Chief of the military, and yet he never served. Disqualifying?

I don't know Slattery or much about his qualifications, and this was pretty clearly a political pick. Nonetheless, a lack of trial or appellate experience is not disqualifying for the job he will be expected to do.

Joe328's picture

Perry Mason

Submitted by Joe328 on Wed, 2014/09/17 - 3:32pm.
(in reply to S Carpenter)

He has been watching Perry Mason reruns for several months now. How much experience do think someone need for their first day on the job?

R. Neal's picture

Nashville Business

Submitted by R. Neal on Wed, 2014/09/17 - 4:49pm.

Nashville Business Journal:

What businesses can expect from a new GOP attorney general

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