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Judge Owns A Lot Of Six-Figure Properties, Forms Show

By Roger Brown
Published: July 30, 2009

BRISTOL, Tenn. – When it comes to Sullivan County’s judges, one thing is clear – in addition to knowing the law, they know a lot about owning valuable real estate.
According to state financial disclosure forms and property assessment data, the county’s judges own homes and land averaging a hefty six figures in appraised market value.
Circuit Court Judge Jerry Beck has a home in Kingsport, Tenn., valued at $123,500. On his candidate disclosure form, Beck lists Tennessee Eastman stock and his judge’s salary among his sources of income, unlike his other judicial colleagues, who don’t list their court salaries. Beck’s investments also include stock holdings in Sprint.
The state law does not require public officials to list the income received in their public office, but they are required to list all other sources of income, including wages and investments. The disclosure forms are designed to make voters aware of personal financial interests that public officials have, and that might conflict with their roles as community servants.
The judge’s disclosure forms are among about 700 the Bristol Herald Courier and News Channel 11 Connects reviewed over the past four months, in both Tennessee and Virginia. The review revealed that nearly 40 percent of those 700 documents contained errors or omissions. In Tennessee only, that rate was 16 percent.
Forms filed by the Tennessee judges, however, were clear of any obvious errors or omissions.
Among the other judges, General Sessions Judge William Watson listed a $314,400 primary home in Bristol, Tenn., as well as a Nelson Avenue rental home in the city valued at $175,200. Among his sources of income, Watson lists his rental income and Social Security.
Chancellor E.G. Moody has a $410,300 primary residence in Bristol. Moody lists a First Tennessee Bank IRA, Social Security and famFrom Page A7
ily revenue from Lamar Outdoor Advertising among his sources of income.
General Sessions Judge J. Klyne Lauderback has a $745,000 primary residence in Bristol, as well as a $60,100 residential lot in the city.
Criminal Court Judge Robert Montgomery has a $151,300 primary residence in Blountville, as well as a $34,300 agricultural lot in the same town. Montgomery’s list of investments include IRAs with American Funds and Edward Jones Investments, as well as money in the Prospectors Investment Club of Kingsport.
General Sessions Judge Duane Snodgrass has a $333,500 primary home in Kingsport.
Municipal Judge Shelton Hillman has a $134,900 primary residence in Bristol, and also holds a $125,600 rental property on Anderson Street, also on the Tennessee side of town. Hillman lists his law practice and U.S. Air Force retirement fund among his income sources.
General Sessions Judge Mark Toohey has a primary residence valued at $325,900, and a pool on two parcels in Kingsport.
Circuit Judge John McLellan has a $255,100 primary residence in Kingsport, and a $12,300 Cherokee Street commercial lot in that city. McLellan has numerous investments in CDs and other funds, including UBS Financial Services and Green Bank.
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