Responding to a request from the Sumner County judiciary, Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam has appointed Joe H. Thompson as circuit court judge for Sumner County, effective June 27, 2014.
Thompson won the Republican primary on May 6, and faces no further opposition in the August 7 general election. The position has been vacant since the death of Judge C.L. "Buck" Rogers on February 27.
Retired Judge Jane Wheatcraft has been presiding over cases by temporary appointment from the Tennessee Supreme Court until the new judge takes office.
"I am honored and humbled by Gov. Haslam=s appointment, and I look forward to serving the citizens of Sumner County. I want to thank Judge Jane Wheatcraft for her admirable service after Judge Rogers' untimely passing. We have been blessed in this county to have such fine public servants," Joe Thompson said.
General Sessions Division I Judge James M. Hunter, Jr. will swear in Thompson at 10 a.m. June 27 in the second floor courtroom of the courthouse on the square in Gallatin. A reception will follow.