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OC native retiring as appellate Judge

OC native retiring as appellate Judge

Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals judge and Hornbeak native son David Hayes will retire June 30 after about 30 years in the legal profession. “It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the citizens of this state for the past 32 years in the positions of district attorney general, circuit court judge and member of the court of criminal appeals,” Hayes wrote in a letter to Gov. Phil Bredesen. Upon retirement, he will take senior status and become one of Tennessee’s five senior judges. Senior judges are former trial and appellate court judges who may be assigned on a temporary basis to any state court. Chief Justice William Barker described Hayes as being among the finest judges in Tennessee. “I know he will be sorely missed by his colleagues on the Court of Criminal Appeals,” he said. “His devotion to the law and to the judicial system are two of the qualities that make him an outstanding judge. We are grateful to Judge Hayes for agreeing to continue his judicial service as a senior judge.” Hayes, 64, who recently moved to Camden from Jackson, was appointed to the Court of Criminal Appeals in April 1994 and was elected to the unexpired term the same year. He was re-elected to an eight-year term in 1998 and again in 2006. Hayes earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Tennessee in 1964 and his law degree from the University of Mississippi in 1970. For six years, 1972-1978, he was a partner in the Union City law firm of Maness, Conley and Hayes. He was district attorney general of the 27th Judicial District (Obion and Weakley counties) 1978-1989. In 1990, he was appointed Circuit Judge of the 27th Judicial District by then-Gov. Ned McWherter and later elected to the office for one term. While district attorney, he also served as president of the Tennessee District Attorneys Conference. While a judge, he served as chairman of several judicial committees. He was faculty advisor at the University of Nevada National Judicial College. A 1961 graduate of the former Hornbeak High School, he is the son of the late Marguerite and O.W. Hayes. Published in The Messenger 6/.10.08