RESOLUTION RS2017-830

A resolution honoring the service, career, and legacy of Judge J. Randall Wyatt, Jr. upon his retirement as Judge of the Davidson County Criminal Court, Division II.

WHEREAS, on September 1, 2017, Judge J. Randall Wyatt, Jr. shall retire as Judge of the Davidson County Criminal Court for Division II after forty-three years of public service; and

WHEREAS, Judge Wyatt was initially elected Judge of the Davidson County Criminal Court for Division II in 1982 -- a position to which he was repeatedly re-elected by a grateful public in 1990, 1998, 2006 and 2014. Judge Wyatt had previously served for 8 years as General Sessions Court Judge; and

WHEREAS, Judge Wyatt’s public service began long before his judicial career. Upon graduating from Father Ryan High School in 1955, Judge Wyatt enlisted in the United States Marine Corps where he served for four years. Upon returning to Nashville, he joined the Nashville Police Department where he worked full time at night while simultaneously earning an undergraduate degree from Middle Tennessee State College (now, Middle Tennessee State University). Judge Wyatt subsequently attended Vanderbilt Law School and, upon graduation, worked as a special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Minneapolis and Detroit. He again returned to Nashville where he worked as an assistant district attorney and legal advisor to the Nashville Police Department before his election as General Sessions Judge in 1982; and

WHEREAS, during his legal career, Judge Wyatt served on the Tennessee Court of the Judiciary and the Executive Committee of the Tennessee Judicial Conference. He served on the Board of Directors of the Nashville Bar Association and in 2005, he was awarded the Bar Association’s Jack Norman, Sr., Award for excellence in criminal law. Judge Wyatt further served as Presiding Judge for General sessions Court from 1978 to 1980 and for the Davidson County Trial Courts from 1986 to 1987; and he served as a member of the evening faculty at Aquinas College from 1969 to 1992 where he taught course on criminal law and evidence; and

WHEREAS, as Judge of the Davidson County Criminal Court for Division II, Judge Wyatt presided over some of the most serious and complex jury trials in Davidson County; and

WHEREAS, both on and off the bench, Judge Wyatt was known for his humility, his kindness, and for treating all who appeared before him with dignity, fairness and compassion. Upon his departure from the bench, he will be deeply missed by countless members of the legal community and public at large who benefitted from his thoughtful guidance and his mastery of jurisprudence; and

WHEREAS, Judge Wyatt’s devotion to Nashville and Davidson County is rivaled only by his deep and abiding devotion to his wife of fifty-three years, Kay Kohl Wyatt, to his five children, Angie, Jim, Laura , Lisa and Vince, to his eleven grandchildren, and to the Vanderbilt Commodores; and

WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper that the Metropolitan Council honor the service, career and legacy of Judge J. Randall Wyatt, Jr. and express its sincere gratitude to him and to his family.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1. The Metropolitan County Council hereby goes on record as honoring the public service, career, and legacy of Judge J. Randall Wyatt, Jr.

Section 2. The Metropolitan Council Office is directed to prepare a copy of this Resolution to be presented to Judge J. Randall Wyatt, Jr.

Section 3. This Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Sponsored by: Kathleen Murphy, Nick Leonardo, Kevin Rhoten, Mina Johnson, Jeff Syracuse, Larry Hagar, Jim Shulman, Bob Mendes