Judge rejects releasing TBI file of ex-judge Richard Baumgartner

Knoxville News Sentinel ^ | 3/9/12 | Jamie Satterfield

[SmithL]

KNOXVILLE — A judge said today he has no authority to make public the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation's file on former judge Richard Baumgartner.

"This court has no authority whatsoever to decide on its own, 'I'm going to let the public see this file,'" Special Judge John Kerry Blackwood said at a specially-called hearing in Knox County Criminal Court.

Blackwood said the portions of the file not made public contain phone records and recorded conversations in which Baumgartner discusses sex with two women and makes "crude remarks" about people.

"What you're not going to find (in the TBI file) is a great big conspiracy among officials to protect Richard Baumgartner," he said.

[SmithL]

Richard Baumgartner was appointed Knox County Criminal Court judge in 1992. The News Sentinel confirmed in Jan. 2011 that Baumgartner was under a TBI investigation. He resigned from the bench in March 2011 and pleaded guilty to a single count of official misconduct for buying pills from Christopher Gibson.

[SmithL]

STILL no justice for Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom.

[for-q-clinton]

Can you give a bit of background for those not familiar with the case?

[jennings2004]

Uuuhhh, in a short response, a druggie was sitting on a judicial bench and his presence in a very serious trial enables the “alleged” perpetrators to get new trials. Totally disgusting.

[jessduntno]

This is just so GD maddening, I can’t believe it ... what these animals did to those poor kids is so disgusting and they all shared it. I would absolutely bring back eye for an eye justice for these bastards, let alone a nice quiet injection. Or let them ride the lightening. GD them to HELL.

[SmithL]

For more information about the Judge, Keyword: Baumgartner.

For information about the rape/torture/murder case, Keyword: ChannonChristian.

[TennesseeGirl]

I wish a journalist would file for the emails of Randy Nichols and Baumgartner and Baumgartner’s secretary under the FOIA for that time period. I want to know who knew what and when they knew it. There’s something very rotten lurking. So, the TBI file won’t see the light of day. Big deal. I want to see the emails under Knox County’s email system for at least those 3 people and maybe the guy at the Drug Court, Hanover. That will tell us what we want to know re Baumgartner. The TBI file may be a red herring. Yeah, it could be interesting, but Nichols and Baumgartner have been buddy’s for a long, long time. Since the Judge was incapacitated for so much of the time, that means Baumgartner’s secretary/admin asst was doing most of his emails as well as scheduling. I’d probably ask for Deena’s emails too. We know she’s computer literate from the sections of the TBI’s files that were released. The emails are the key, not the files.

[TennesseeGirl]

If you’re in the area today (Fri, March 9, 2012), there is a Channon and Chris Memorial Fund Concert at The Shed at Smoky Mountain Harley Davidson. Doors open at 7 p.m. Cost is $10/person will ALL funds going to Chris and Channon’s parents for ongoing costs. There will be a full bar and restaurant open. The band, Southbound, will be playing from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Please come out and show your support to the families in this ongoing nightmare.

[TennesseeGirl]

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/news/local/channon-christian-christopher-newsom-murders/

[TennesseeGirl]

Here’s a link for all to the partial TBI on the good Judge that was released. http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/270260-the-redacted-tbi-file-on-former-judge-richard.html

[cva66snipe]

Well he sure has seemed to acquire the authority to do a lot of other things like let a fellow judge go with a slap on the wrist and hand out new trials. Tennessee Court Houses are among some of the most corrupt in the nation when it comes too dealing with the lawbreakers within their walls. Maybe the State Attorney General or Haslam will order too release it? Maybe the state upper courts? Nah I'm dreaming.

It seems every thing that can be done is being done as too to not make all the details of Baumgartner's crimes known too the public.

[TennesseeGirl]

"It seems every thing that can be done is being done as too to not make all the details of Baumgartner's crimes known too the public. "

Don't you find it interesting that after 20 years in office, Randy Nichols (close personal friend of Baumgarter) has decided not to run for re-election. Nichols became DA when the Democratic Governor, Ned McWherter, appointed him after then-DA Ed Dossett (Republican) was supposedly trampled to death by cattle. There's an interesting account at (as well as Baumgartner stuff). In my personal opinion, Nichols and Baumgartner were two of the absolute weakest on crime and punishment for all those years. Yet, citizens kept returning them back to office. I can't figure it out. I never voted for either EVER.

I repeat, some enterprising journalist in Knox County needs to obtain the emails for the time period of 2007 to 2011 that were generated on the County's email system that pertain to Baumgartner, Nichols, and Baumgartner's secretary. That's work product. FOIA. The newspaper, like an illusionist, wants us to focus over here at the TBI file when the public needs to be focusing over there at the emails. http://www.shotsacrossthebow.com/index.php/weblog/archives/2011/12/

[cva66snipe]

A reporter could make a career in a few of the area courthouse by digging up bones. If the average person spent but a couple hours in a court room they would become quite disgusted and make them seriously consider their vote perhaps. Even more so of what goes on in the hallways where deals are made.