Judicial News

JUDICIAL NEWS By: Broderick Young

Arnett, Draper & Hagood

MEET JUDGE RYAN SPITZER

Judge Ryan Spitzer was sworn in as the Circuit Court Judge for Tennessee’s 7th Judicial District on September 1, 2021. I recently had a chance to sit down with Judge Spitzer and very much enjoyed learning more about Anderson County’s newest Judge.

Judge Spitzer is originally from Humboldt, Tennessee. After high school, he first attended Jackson State Community College before matriculating to Lambuth University. He originally was interested in a career in medicine and served as a medic in the United States Army National Guard from 1993-1999. However, a political science class led not only to a change in major but to a change in career. After graduating with a major in Political Science and minor in Philosophy from Lambuth in 1999 and completing his service to the National Guard, he began his legal career at Vanderbilt University Law School in 2000.

After graduating from law school in 2003, he returned to Humboldt where he engaged in a general civil practice, which included bankruptcy, probate, and other general civil matters. However, through some friendships he developed with local law enforcement, he became interested in criminal law. He applied for an open position with the Anderson County District Attorney’s office in 2007, and after a successful interview, was hired as an Assistant District Attorney for Anderson County, Tennessee. As an ADA, he prosecuted various criminal matters before becoming more focused on the prosecution of drug-related offenses.

Early on in his career as an ADA, he also became acquainted with a probation officer by the name of Tracy Loch. It was after watching a painful, but somewhat laughable, preliminary hearing where a seasoned General Sessions Judge torched a notoriously argumentative officer, that the two first exchanged numbers. They married in 2011, live in Oak Ridge where Tracy grew up, and are the proud parents of two young boys. Tracy Spitzer continues to serve the Anderson County justice system as the Director of Juvenile Court Services for Anderson County.

When health issues forced Judge Donald Elledge1 to seek an earlier than planned retirement this past spring, Judge Spitzer applied for the position of Anderson County Circuit Court Judge. Judge Spitzer was ultimately appointed by Governor Bill Lee to the bench on August the 30th of 2021; Judge Elledge had been retired since the end of June. While Anderson County was fortunate to have judges from neighboring jurisdictions step up and cover Judge Elledge’s docket during July and August, Judge Spitzer felt a sense of urgency in getting started so that the other judges could return to their dockets. He was sworn in just two days after he was appointed and began hearing cases the next day, on September 2nd, 2021.

Complicating his whirlwind entry to the bench, Judge Spitzer, like all judges, had to accommodate the uncertainty of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. When he took the bench, the virus was in a bit of a lull, and, up until the holidays, COVID-related restrictions were easing. However, due to the emergence of the Omicron variant, on January 4, 2022, Judge Spitzer made the difficult decision to reinstate the mask requirement for his Court.2

The Circuit Court caseload is heavily weighted toward criminal matters, which make up 80-85% of the docket. While this case distribution is very much in line with Judge Spitzer’s prior experience as a prosecutor, Judge Spitzer has really enjoyed getting to handle civil cases again, and he mentioned that one of the pleasant early surprises of his tenure had been the quality of the civil lawyers that have appeared before him. Technology has been a point of focus for Judge Spitzer, and some recent changes include upgraded computer connectors which allow a wider range of devices to connect with the big-screen televisions in the Circuit Court Room and enhanced Wi-Fi, which will improve the streaming and downloading capabilities within the Court Room. A longer-term goal is the implementation of electronic filing of pleadings, which Judge Spitzer views as a pressing need, and one that he believes could provide compounding benefits of efficiency and the smoother administration of justice in both the criminal and civil contexts. As for the impact Judge Elledge has had on his approach to the bench, “Judge Elledge was a fantastic lawyer before he became a fantastic judge,” whose remarkable attention to detail was a product of his efforts to be “the most prepared lawyer in the room.” Judge Spitzer noted that Judge Elledge’s practice of being “over prepared” has especially influenced his approach to civil matters, as it has been some time since he has practiced in that area.

As far as his expectations of lawyers that appear before him, essentially, he expects professionalism. He expects lawyers not only to be prepared and to zealously represent their clients but to do so in a civil and professional manner. He further expects this civility and respect to extend beyond the Court and the opposing lawyers to Court personnel and all persons associated with the administration of the case.

Outside of the Courthouse, Judge Spitzer enjoys spending time with his family, his church, and the restoration of classic automobiles.

1 I’m happy to report Judge Elledge is doing much better now and is ably enjoying his retirement. 2 Several of the other Anderson County courts have also reinstated a requirement that masks be worn at all times in their respective courtrooms.