A local legend of community service will quietly vacate his office in the Rutherford County Judicial Building this Friday (11/2/2012). Judge Don Ash will be hanging-up his Circuit Court robes for the 16th Judicial District and taking on the new mantle of Senior Judge. The Tennessee Supreme Court appoints former trial and appellate judges to positions as Senior Judges to serve four year terms. The federal level of this position describes the office holder as being semi-retired.
Over the years, Judge Ash has quietly tried to create innovative new ways to bring better judicial service to the area. He heard about a program that resulted in reduced recidivism of substance abuse offenders, and he went to Las Vegas to learn more about the success and challenges of Drug Court. Judge Ash came home with exciting ideas that were fine-tuned for this community, and Rutherford County Drug Court was born.
He is also widely known for his work with domestic violence. In fact, his law school thesis was titled "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" and is the infrastructure of Tennessee's Parenting Plan.
Judge Ash knew that the scars of a divorce often last a lifetime. He also knew that there would be times when these parents would need to come together peacefully for such future events as their child's graduation, marriage and other milestones of life. The program not only continues to work in Tennessee, but has become a model for other states.
Judge Ash completed his undergraduate work at MTSU and law degree from the University of Memphis.
