TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Suzanne Craig Robertson on Oct 20, 2014

Knoxville lawyer David Torbett died Oct. 15 at the age of 80. He graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Law and began his legal career in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General Corps, where he attained the rank of captain. He practiced law in Kingsport and Johnson City and was active in politics there, serving in the State House of Representatives from 1961 to 1964. During his career, Torbett served as a Criminal Court judge, during which time the public defender system was instituted under his direction. He was also with the US Department of the Interior as an administrative law judge and mentored UT Law students in his retirement. Services were today;  on Tuesday (Oct. 21) at 1:30 p.m., the family will meet friends at Morris Baker Funeral Home in Johnson City, with a graveside service at 2 p.m. at  Monte Vista Cemetery.