Attorney Profile

ATTORNEY PROFILE By: David M. Eldridge

Eldridge & Blakney, P.C. Tasha C. Blakney

Eldridge & Blakney, P.C.

ZACHARY R. WALDEN – BARRISTERS PRESIDENT

It is with great pride that we introduce the Honorable Zachary R. Walden, formerly known to us as Zack, now known to us as “Your Honor,” as the incoming President of the KBA Barristers. The fact that we have the opportunity to write this introduction is a testament to the kind of person Judge Walden is. Having successfully run for the seat of retiring Judge Shayne Sexton as the Criminal Court Judge for the Eighth Judicial District (comprised of Fentress, Scott, Campbell, Union, and Claiborne counties), the easy way out would have been to cite the pressing responsibilities of his new position and politely bowing out of serving as the Barristers President this year. Such a step is just not in Judge Walden’s DNA – he made his commitment to serve and is going to do just that. Judge Walden was born, raised, and still lives in Campbell County. He is the son of Pamela and Bob Walden who are both long-term and respected educators in the Campbell County School system. He is a member of a very large family of Walden’s in the area, so much so that we joked that he would win the election in Campbell County if only his family voted for him. He graduated from Campbell County High School, ETSU, and then ventured down to Tuscaloosa to attend the University of Alabama Law School, lured by generous scholarship opportunities like a 5-star football recruit. While at Alabama, he drank the Bama Kool-Aid and became a die-hard Bama football fan.

When now-Judge Walden came to work with us six years ago, he was very open with us that if and when Judge Sexton retired, he planned to pursue a position on the bench. Unfortunately for us, but fortunately for the bar and citizens of the Eighth Judicial District, that opportunity presented itself to him this past year. Leadership has always been a part of Judge Walden’s nature. While at ETSU, he was very active in leadership roles, serving as Vice President of the student body, Senator in the Student Government Association, Director of the Tennessee Association of Residence Halls, and on the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, among other positions. After the grind of law school and while practicing with us, he remained active and interested in local government and politics. Campaigning came quite naturally to Zack, and he was obviously good at it although it was an exhausting summer for him as he worked with us and ran his campaign at the same time. It all paid off for him in August with his election as the youngest judge in the state of Tennessee.

While with us, Zack had the opportunity to develop experience beyond his years. On David’s side of our practice, he played a very meaningful role in trying two long and complicated out of town trials – the kind where it was necessary to set up housekeeping in an Airbnb. Zack actually lived with David, sometimes his wife Desiree, and their dog Kate during these trials and David and Desiree call him their “fake son.” On Tasha’s side of the house, Zack participated in an extraordinarily wide range of cases, including trials, hearings, mediations, and arbitrations. In just one instance of note, Zack did extraordinary legal work with one of our clients, securing a position for him in Veterans’ Recovery Court, at a time when it appeared that nearly everyone else thought there were no other options available. To this day, the client continues to recover and had experienced an extraordinary reformation, in large part thanks to Zack’s efforts. Now Judge Walden developed the respect of the presiding judges and the lawyers in each of these cases and many others.

Zack brings a great deal of bar leadership experience to his Barristers Presidency as well. He has been active in the TBA Young Lawyers Division serving, for example, as one of the statewide Mock Trial co-chairs for several years, including putting on the competition entirely virtually during the COVID pandemic. He has, of course, been active locally as well and has helped organize the Barristers Constitution Day presentations over the years.

Zack will serve the Barristers with a healthy sense of humor as well. He was a very enjoyable member of our firm family with hearty laughs and unique wit. During the lockdown, we would all look forward to what Zoom background Zack would appear with on our regular calls with one of the most entertaining being Batman in the Batcave!

Judge Walden has packed a lot of experience into his life so far and has justifiably garnered the respect of those who have had the opportunity to work with him, including his predecessor on the bench. Judge Sexton offered this description of the job and Zack: “Presiding over a five-county criminal docket while maintaining a drug recovery court is a daunting task. Prior to taking the bench, Zack was able to observe many courts and the processes that keep them running. Now Judge Walden has laid the groundwork for an efficient and justice-driven court. He is and will be an excellent member of the judiciary.”

It is with almost parental pride that we present Zack Walden to you as the next Barristers President. We know him to be hard-working, well-prepared, talented, professional, and personable. He will be a great Barristers President and a great judge.