TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Kate Prince on Oct 20, 2021

Former Chattanooga judge Rebecca Stern yesterday announced she has entered the race for Hamilton County Criminal Court, a position she previously held for 17 years, the Chattanoogan reports. Stern retired from the bench in 2015 and opened a criminal defense law practice in Chattanooga one year later, noting that she was “ready to return to work.” She began her legal career at Strang, Fletcher, Carriger, Walker, Hodge & Smith and later worked as a prosecutor at the Hamilton County District Attorney General’s Office, where she focused on child abuse and domestic violence cases. Stern began presiding over criminal court cases in 1997, continuing to hear cases after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010. She continued to work through surgery and treatments, but says her decision to retire in 2015 was made to prioritize her health. During her time as judge, Stern presided over the successful Hamilton County Recovery Court. She seeks to fill the seat that will soon be vacated by Judge Don Poole.