Judge John Rosson defends making introductions at 2015 Trump rally | Georgiana Vines

Knoxville Municipal Judge John Rosson Jr. has a collection of photographs of himself with politicians representing both main political parties along with entertainers and media personalities in his office at the Safety Building where he conducts City Court.

This columnist checked them out after a photograph started circulating recently of him at a podium at a rally for Donald Trump, which is being interpreted by some of his opponents’ supporters as endorsing the former president. The photograph was made Nov. 16, 2015, when Trump spoke at the Knoxville Convention Center to 5,000 people.

Rosson, who is seeking a 10th term for a nonpartisan position that pays $92,000 annually, said he didn’t endorse Trump at the rally but was there to introduce three people: one who led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag, another who sang “The Star-Spangled Banner" and the minister who gave a prayer.

He said he was asked by an organizer, whom he declined to identify, if he would introduce Trump when someone else didn’t make it to the rally, but he told the organizer, “I’m not allowed to endorse candidates” under the state Supreme Court’s ethics guidelines for judges.

Rosson, 75, was shown the photograph that is circulating. He is standing at a podium with a sign where the name Trump is clearly shown. A photograph of the event on Nov. 17, 2015, shows the sign reads, “the silent majority STANDS WITH TRUMP.” He said he was unaware of the sign or he might not have agreed to make the introductions.

Rosson said when contacted about making the introductions, he said he would do it if he could be photographed with the real estate mogul and reality TV star. “I didn’t have to pay anything for the photograph,” he said. When he arrived at the Convention Center, he went to an area where Trump was meeting with others who wanted to be photographed with him, which was behind the rally location.

“I came in the back way. I didn’t know about the sign. When I was through, I got off the stage and left. I didn’t hear Trump’s speech. That’s the end of the story,” Rosson said.

Rosson said he has not introduced anyone at any other political event. He has a reputation for attending both Republican and Democratic events. His voting record shows he votes in Republican primaries. He said where he lives in West Knoxville, frequently the only races are those for local GOP primaries. That doesn’t mean that in general elections with candidates from both parties running for the same office that he votes only Republican, he said.

Besides the collection of photographs in his municipal office, he said he also has photographs at his home and in an office he has for a private law practice, which the city judge is allowed to have since the position is considered part time.

At the time of the Knoxville rally, Trump was considered a top candidate for the Republican nomination for president in 2016, which he eventually won before being elected president. Trump was defeated for reelection in 2020 by Democrat Joe Biden and is seeking the GOP nomination again for 2024.

Rosson also has a photograph of himself with Biden. “It cost me $300,” he said. He went to a book signing in 2017 that Biden had in Asheville, North Carolina, with the money going toward the photo and a copy of Biden's book “Promise Me, Dad: A Year of Hope, Hardship, and Purpose.”

“I have to go other places to get photographs with (prominent) Democrats. Democrats don’t come to Knoxville,” Rosson said.

The photograph of Trump is at the top of a wall corner on one side of bookshelves, and the one with Biden is on the other side of the shelves, more than halfway up. A photograph of Rosson with former President Jimmy Carter, another Democrat, is on the same wall near Biden.

Among the Republicans with whom Rosson has been photographed are Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, former President George W. Bush, former Vice President Mike Pence and former New York Mayor and Trump adviser Rudy Giuliani.

Rosson’s daughter, Hannah, is included in a photograph of former Democratic President Bill Clinton. Other Democrats Rosson has pictures with include Clinton’s wife, Hillary, whom Trump defeated for the presidency in 2016; former Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen; former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi; and U.S. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey, his most recent photograph, Rosson said.

The late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and current Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas also are included in the collection of political figures.

Regarding Rosson’s reference about being unable to introduce Trump, the state Supreme Court’s rule is that a judge or candidate for judicial office shall not engage in political or campaign activity “that is inconsistent with the independence, integrity or impartiality of the judiciary.” Judges and judicial candidates cannot hold office in a political organization, make speeches on behalf of a political organization or publicly endorse or oppose a candidate for public office, the rule says.

The local and state Republican organizations were not involved in the Trump rally, a News Sentinel story said at the time. Another story reported that the Trump campaign instead enlisted the help of former Knox County Sheriff Tim Hutchison to get out a crowd.

Three lawyers have submitted nominating petitions to campaign against Rosson, with the Knox County Election Commission planning to meet at 8:30 a.m. July 10 to approve the ballot for all positions in the 2023 city elections. These candidates are Andrew Beamer, Tyler M. Caviness and Mary L. Ward.

The offices of mayor, City Council at-large seats A, B and C, and the City Council 5th District seat also are on the ballot.

Knoxville’s Municipal Court handles civil cases involving traffic violations. The court also hears violations of the city’s animal control ordinance. If defendants are found guilty, there is a $50 fine plus court costs to pay.

Rosson has his own case before a Williamson County General Sessions Court on July 11 after he was cited for “reckless driving, driving head on with traffic on interstate” and traveling the wrong way on a one-way road in February. Rosson has said he was traveling on Interstate 65 when he came upon traffic and had to urinate. So, he said, he drove along the side of the intestate to an exit ramp and went the wrong way up the exit ramp to get to a gas station to use the bathroom.

∎ MARTHA’S MOVING: Dr. Martha Buchanan, who was the Knox County Health Department’s leader against COVID-19 in the pandemic's early days, is moving to South Carolina to become the state’s lead public health consultant.

She starts the new position on June 19, she said. She will be with the South Carolina Department of Health in Columbia for six months and then go to Charleston, where her wife, Kelly Lenz, is located. Buchanan said she will work remotely from Charleston. The couple has been married since 2021.

Buchanan left the Knox County Health Department in December 2021 and then served as interim CEO of the YWCA Knoxville and the Tennessee Valley during a transition period for the agency. In March, Stephanie Burrage, chief financial officer and interim CEO for a nonprofit victim services agency in Central California, joined the YWCA as chief executive officer.

∎ SAM’S BUSY: State Rep. Sam McKenzie, a Democrat who represents Knoxville’s 15th District, is retiring from his job at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and making plans as chairman of the Tennessee Black Caucus for the group to tour the state, including Knoxville, in June.

McKenzie said Thursday the caucus will be in Knoxville on June 16, and Rep. Justin Jones of Nashville is expected to attend. Jones and Rep. Justin Pearson of Memphis, both of whom are Black, were expelled from the House after participating in gun control protests on the chamber's floor. State Rep. Gloria Johnson of Knoxville, who’s white and was with them during the protests, survived expulsion by just one vote. They have become known as the “Tennessee Three” and are Democratic heroes.

After Jones and Pearson were expelled, they were reappointed to the House within days by local legislative bodies and face reelection in primaries on June 15.

McKenzie said Renee Kesler, president of the Beck Cultural Exchange Center, is planning a tour of Knoxville via Knoxville Area Transit bus for the group and ending with an event at the center.

McKenzie, a physicist specializing in environmental safety and health, is retiring officially on July 13, although his last day of work was April 14 as he takes vacation time, he said. His last position during 34 years at the lab was as a project manager of the Proton Power Upgrade at the Spallation Neutron Source.

He said he is part owner of the Magnolia Café in East Knoxville and plans to spend more time helping with business development and “being hands on.” He is married to City Councilwoman Gwen McKenzie.

Georgiana Vines is retired News Sentinel associate editor. She may be reached at gvpolitics@hotmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Georgiana Vines: Judge Rosson defends introductions at Trump rally