Judicial Profile

JUDICIAL PROFILE By: Richard A. Major

Magistrate and Court Administrator Knox County Fourth Circuit and Criminal Courts

CHANCELLOR RICHARD “BUD” ARMSTRONG: PREPARED TO SERVE

The Sixth Judicial District has a new Chancellor, the Honorable Richard “Bud” Armstrong. Three candidates competed in the Knox County Republican Party primary for Chancery Court Part II. Bud was successful in the primary and the August general election was uncontested. He was sworn into office on the thirty-first of August. I was first introduced to our new Chancellor fourteen years ago when he knocked on my hearing room door very late one night. At the time, Bud was about a year into his term on the Knox County Commission, and I was working the overnight shift as a General Sessions Court Magistrate. As we began to talk, he explained the reason for his nocturnal visit. Since the County Commission is the appointing authority for Magistrates, as a Commissioner, Bud, would soon be casting a vote to fill a recent vacancy. Bud understood the importance of preparation, and he dutifully applied himself to learning about a Magistrate’s judicial responsibilities. This midnight meeting left an indelible impression on me. During the eight years I worked nights, he was the only Commissioner that I recall coming to observe the public servants they were responsible for appointing. Bud and his wife, Patti Jo, are lifelong residents of East Knox County. He was raised in a rural portion of the county, where he attended Skaggston Elementary School and then Carter High School. Although she was a woman of limited financial means, his strong and intellectually curious mother was responsible for the development of his foundational convictions. As a woman of great faith, she continued to be a powerful influence on his life. In her later years, she prepared a devotion which Bud was honored to share during one of his County Commission meetings. Bud is quick to recount by name all the many East-Knox-Countians who invested in him as a young man. One consistent thread throughout his entire life and career is a deep sense of indebtedness to and appreciation for his local community. At the University of Tennessee, Bud earned both a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Science degree. His local university education paved the way for his first job with the Tennessee Valley Authority. Throughout his career at TVA, he held a variety of positions, each with increasing levels of responsibility. Initially, he served as a Socio-Economic Scientist, later going on to serve as a consultant in environmental compliance, emergency response and education. His work with legislative and regulatory matters sparked an early interest in the study of law. While working at TVA, Bud earned a Doctor of Education, Education Leadership – Policy; Financial, Institutional Analysis and Management Science from Columbia University. He became significantly involved with research in technical education and workforce development. Through his research, Bud was ultimately designated as codirector of an international research team and served as a congressional consultant. He has taught at the University of Tennessee, Roane State Community College and the University of Michigan. Bud has addressed the National Press Club and various governmental organizations on both education and legal issues. An invitation from former Juvenile Court Judge Carey Garrett to, “come help his kids” would be a turning point in his professional life. Continuing to work during the day, Bud began four years of driving to middle Tennessee and then returning at night to complete his legal education at Nashville School of Law. Upon his retirement from TVA, Bud was ready to begin the second act of his career. Following up on a promise that he made to Judge Garrett, Bud began his legal career with much time spent handling all types of cases in Juvenile Court. From 2008 until 2010 Bud served on the Knox County Commission. While serving on Commission, he became a tireless advocate for building a new elementary school for the children of the Carter community, who had long endured substandard facilities. Fighting for this school was an uphill battle that many viewed as politically ill-advised. Yet for Bud it was personal, harkening back to his childhood and his desire to serve his community. Bud believes that his advocacy on Commission for building a new Carter Elementary School is one of his greatest contributions. In 2012 Bud was elected Law Director and became responsible for overseeing all the legal matters for Knox County. His legal experience and management background melded well in this new role supervising a large office of brilliant attorneys and support staff. The work was both demanding and rewarding. Bud endeavored to be a good steward of the citizens’ resources. Under his leadership, the office brought in more than twenty million dollars through litigation and recovered over three million dollars in false claims wrongfully taken from the county. One of his most significant administrative accomplishments was insourcing the workers compensation program under the direction of the law department, a move that ultimately saved the county two million dollars in administrative costs. Adding the Board of Education’s workers compensation program saved an additional couple of million dollars, while extending coverage to eight thousand uncovered teachers. Bud won reelection in 2016 and served until his term limit in 2020. The second act of his career was nicely bookended when he watched his Chief Deputy, David Buuck, succeed him as Law Director. However, he would again hear the call to service. I visited the Chancellor’s new office during his second week on the bench. The walls were still bare in the spartan room. He was already deep into the work, yet seemingly unphased by the trappings of office. What I discovered was the same sense of preparation that I had encountered years before. His desk was covered in files, and he was eager to demonstrate a new electronic notetaking device. He was clearly excited to discuss the work he was doing, the wonderful court staff and a recent sermon about being available when the Lord has need of you. If past is prologue, then our new Chancellor will be well prepared and hard to outwork.