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Dickson County General Sessions Judge Censured 

On May 1, Dickson County General Sessions Judge Durwood G. Moore of Charlotte was issued two public censures for behavior in his courtroom. In the first case, the Court of the Judiciary found that Moore behaved inappropriately in his dealings with an attorney representing a client in his courtroom. The inappropriate behavior included failing to recognize the attorney for an announcement about an agreement reached with opposing counsel and, in a subsequent telephone conversation, threatening the lawyer with criminal contempt, using profanity and hanging up on the lawyer. The court determined that these actions violated Canons 2A and 3B(4) of the Canons of Judicial Conduct.

In the second case, Judge Moore ordered the seizure and mandatory drug testing of a citizen observer in his courtroom who was neither a litigant, defendant, nor person with business before the court. The Court of the Judiciary found his actions to be illegal, as no statutory or constitutional basis existed for the seizure or the test. The court determined that Moore violated Canons 2A, 3B(2) and 3B(4) of the Canons of Judicial Conduct, as well as the citizen’s right to due process, privacy and freedom under both the U.S. and Tennessee constitutions.

In both cases, the court concluded that the judge’s conduct detrimentally affected the integrity of the Tennessee Judiciary and undermined public confidence in the administration of justice.