shirleyNANNEY
Editor
There was standing room only at the Colonial Tea Room in Huntingdon on Aug. 18 at the retirement reception for 24th Judicial District Circuit Court Judge Donald Parish.
Judges, lawyers, law enforcement and friends came to honor Parish for his 16 years of service on the bench in the counties of Carroll, Henry, Benton, Decatur and Hardin Counties.
His judgeship included hearing civil and criminal cases and appeals of decisions from Juvenile, Municipal, and General Sessions Courts. The jurisdiction of circuit courts often overlaps that of the chancery courts.
Circuit Court Clerk Sarah Bradberry and her staff organized the reception with Matt Maddox, president of the Carroll County Bar Association, presiding over the event.
Newly elected General Sessions Judge and former law partner Michael King spoke briefly about Parish and how much he had learned from him and how much he had helped him. State Court of Criminal Appeals Judge John Everett Williams, Chief Justice of the State Supreme Court Roger A. Page and Huntingdon attorney Steve West also had comments about Parish.
Williams and West spoke of Parish’s fairness and service to his fellowman.
West had Parish assist him in unveiling a portrait of Parish that will hang in the courthouse.
Parish is a graduate of Huntingdon High School, the University of Tennessee in 1979 and 1981. He served as Huntingdon’s Municipal Judge from 1982-2006. The town of Huntingdon changed its charter so a council member could run at the age of 18. He ran for the office and was elected.
He is a member of Huntingdon Missionary Baptist Church and a deacon.
He and his wife, Cathy, have one daughter, Caroline, who is an attorney in Jackson.
Since he has retired, he and Cathy, plan on getting some rest and working on some causes that are dear to their hearts.
