FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
from Atty. Van Irion
(May 2, 2014) — Last week the Daily Post-Athenian published a half-page advertisement that was paid for by two local attorneys: William Biddle and his partner Chris Trew. The ad contained lies.
The advertisement headline stated “Irion Not Qualified,” implying that Mr. Irion does not meet the qualifications to serve as a Judge. Attorneys Biddle and Trew lied. Van Irion exceeds all qualifications to appear on the ballot, and to serve as Criminal Court Judge for Tennessee’s 10th Judicial District.
Because the public tends to give more weight to statements made by attorneys about judicial candidates, the Rules of Professional Conduct prohibit attorneys from making a false statement about the qualifications of any judicial candidate when the attorney knows the statement is false or when the attorney is acting with reckless disregard as to the truth or falsity of the statement. While Mr. Trew and Mr. Biddle certainly have a right to express their opinion regarding any candidate for political office, because they are attorneys they cannot publish statements that they know are false, and they cannot be reckless about the truth of their statements.
Because Mr. Irion knows that Mr. Trew and Mr. Biddle published false statements about a judicial candidate, and because Mr. Irion has reason to believe that Mr. Trew and Mr. Biddle knew that these statements were false, Mr. Irion is also required by the Rules of Professional Conduct to notify the Board of Professional Responsibility. He has done so and is requesting that the Board investigate this matter.
To contact Van for comment, please call 423-442-6466 or email van@vanforjudge.org.
Van Irion For Judge
Kathy Xanders, Treasurer
PO Box 786
Madisonville, TN 37354
Phone/Fax 423-208-9953