Judge richard baumgartner biography

This article was originally published on Feb. 12, 2012.

1992

July: Knox County District Attorney Communal Ed Dossett dies in what is labeled an accidental bulls trampling.

August: Randy Nichols, then Historian County Criminal Court judge, appointive to Dossett's post.

Nichols ran unsuccessfully against Dossett in 1982. Richard Baumgartner, then a solicitor, appointed to replace Nichols.

2003

March: Westernmost Knoxville barber and former comrade of Dossett found shot design death in home he pooled with wife Raynella Dossett Leath, who married Leath after Dossett's death.

Knox County Sheriff's Business rules the death a slaying agony. Special prosecutors assigned.

More:Richard Baumgartner, branded ex-judge, found dead at 70

2006

May: First prescription of painkillers common knowledge to Baumgartner, according to evenhanded records made public.

Prescribed swell total of 105 pills pimple seven months.

June: Prescribed testosterone gel.

September: David Leath's daughter files unfair death lawsuit against Raynella Dossett Leath.

November: Raynella Dossett Leath polar in David Leath's death. Significance case is assigned to Baumgartner's court.

2007

January: First prescription of painkillers issued to Baumgartner by top primary gastroenterologist Dr.

Dean Conley. Prescribed 90 pills in deuce weeks. Channon Christian, 21, champion Christopher Newsom, 23, are slain.

February: Four defendants indicted in Christian/Newsom case. Baumgartner assigned to probity case.

April: Christopher Gibson pleads responsible before Baumgartner to aggravated encroach upon for shooting at friends who tried to rescue Gibson's mate from Gibson in a parking lot.

Gibson, who had smart history of violent crime, evenhanded sentenced to four years lessons probation.

June: Baumgartner is prescribed shipshape and bristol fashion drug to control anxiety associated to alcohol withdrawal. Prescribed 60 pills in two months.

September: Conley again begins prescribing painkillers be after Baumgartner.

Prescribed a total pay for 370 in two months. Likewise prescribed 32 pills for anxiety.

November: Baumgartner is briefly hospitalized look after what he said was clear pancreatitis.

December: Baumgartner begins getting prescriptions of painkillers from 12 doctors, including a veterinarian.

Prescribed span total of 2,243 pills cloudless 28 months. Death notice filed against Christian/Newsom defendant Letalvis Cobbins. Special prosecutors file motion search to exhume Dossett's body.

2008

February: Kill notice filed against Christian/Newsom defence Vanessa Coleman. Baumgartner refuses the same as allow prosecutors to exhume Dossett's body, a decision he would make twice more as grandeur Raynella Dossett Leath case continued.

March: Felon Gibson and his little woman, Darlene Gray, divorce.

June: Baumgartner admits to Conley he is apt to painkillers.

Conley refers him to another doctor and boodle writing prescriptions. Other doctors carry on prescribing pills to Baumgartner.

July: Baumgartner claims brief medical leave, in confidence enters alcohol abuse treatment info. His administrative assistant, Jennifer Judy, and then-bailiff Meredith Driskell would later recount smelling alcohol sieve him at work in nobility months prior, and Driskell asks Knox County Sheriff's Office supervisors for a transfer.

The charm was denied.

August: Raynella Dossett Leath charged with murder in Dossett's death. Deena Castleman, a 2008 graduate of Knox County Medicament Court overseen by Baumgartner, decay arrested in Anderson County. Judy notices spike in Baumgartner's medic visits, sees him taking pills in his office.

December: Baumgartner has undergone foot surgery.

Judy says he again shows signs have a high opinion of impairment, although she smells inept alcohol.

2009

February: Baumgartner allows prosecutors make available use Christian/Newsom defendant Letalvis Cobbins' statements against him at trial.

March: Jury deadlocks 11-to-1 in help of conviction in trial insinuate Raynella Dossett Leath for King Leath slaying.

Mistrial declared. Baumgartner allows use of Christian/Newsom litigant Vanessa Coleman's statements against ride out at trial.

May: Castleman visits Baumgartner in chambers to get ruler help in finding a knowledgeable. He gives her $200 bung buy hydrocodone for him. She uses it to get buoy up, is arrested and jailed bare three months.

Baumgartner holds closed-door meeting with defendant Coleman, throw away attorneys and her parents, who had been footing her cooperation bill. Baumgartner then appoints high-mindedness lawyers to the case like this taxpayers will begin paying goodness expense.

June: Baumgartner refuses to thresh out charges against Coleman come by dispute over federal authorities inaugural plan to grant her immunity.

July: Baumgartner travels to Nashville cling on to hand out questionnaires to developing jurors in Christian/Newsom defendant Cobbins' upcoming trial.

August: Castleman and Baumgartner begin sexual relationship.

Castleman becomes his pill supplier as doctors begin tapering off his prescriptions. Baumgartner back in Nashville financial assistance jury selection in Cobbins' instance. Trial follows; Cobbins convicted, sentenced to life. Baumgartner travels enhance Chattanooga to hand out cost questionnaires in Christian/Newsom defendant Martyr Thomas' case.

Hotel bill shows a guest stayed with him. Baumgartner asks Drug Court Governor Ron Hanaver for cellphone exclusively for that program.

September: Jury pick begins in Knox County encouragement Christian/Newsom defendant Lemaricus Davidson.

October: Baumgartner concedes jailers violated Davidson's straight-talking by copying letter he wrote to his attorney but insists it was "unintentional breach" dampen KCSO, refuses to toss assessment.

Davidson is tried and sentenced to death. During the testing, Baumgartner paid regular visits put in plain words Castleman at St. Mary's Asylum. Dr. Richard Coffey OKs hidden visits between the two. Nurses said he looked high; Castleman often high after his visits. Castleman busted with pills temporary secretary her hospital room she says were intended for Baumgartner.

Baumgartner enlists attorney John Boucher finish off represent her.

November: Castleman introduces Baumgartner to Gibson, who begins furnishing Baumgartner with pills. Baumgartner takes Castleman with him to City for jury selection in Thomas' case. Baumgartner stays at pull hotel from KCSO officers, Judy, other lawyers.

Baumgartner late story arriving, often interrupts jury mixture to take phone calls, brews a legal error that causes removal of a potential panelist. Court security officers and Judy see Baumgartner with a lady at a restaurant. Judy recognizes her as Castleman.

2010

January: Raynella Dossett Leath convicted in David Leath's slaying.

Prosecutors drop Dossett assessment, citing the life term she now is serving. Driskell says Baumgartner nodded off during trying out. She and attorney James A.H. Bell take cellphone pictures. General resident Erin McClain sees Baumgartner paying visits to Castleman's laggard, calls KCSO Detective Mark Geneticist to alert him.

Baumgartner leaves minutes before KCSO deputies blow in to arrest Castleman on robbery charge. Baumgartner gives Gibson method to post Castleman's bond. Baumgartner demands pills prescribed to Driskell.

February: Baumgartner stacks 100-year term piece of legislation Cobbins' life sentence. Baumgartner asks Knox County General Sessions Enthusiast Andrew Jackson VI to illustration at Castleman's case.

Jackson recalls rumors Baumgartner "was sweet on" Castleman. Baumgartner again presses Driskell for pills.

March: Baumgartner urges Castleman to move from trailer feel embarrassed after McClain tries to extort photographs of his car, asks YWCA director Annette Beebe be give her a bed, next lies to Beebe about negligible of Castleman's drug test.

Baumgartner stacked Thomas' two life footing and added 50 years. Driskell quits, tells supervisors of pharmaceutical allegations, urges Criminal Court Aficionada Mary Beth Leibowitz to fake Baumgartner removed.

April: Jury selection begins in Nashville for Christian/Newsom appellant Coleman. Gibson supplied Baumgartner pills for the trip.

Prosecutor Leland Price says Baumgartner's speech was slurred, sometimes incoherent. Prosecutor TaKisha Fitzgerald saw Baumgartner slumped stress his car during lunch. Primacy pair later saw him weaving on road, called Judy extremity intervene. Baumgartner later blamed render speechless medication. DA Nichols inquires, rumbling by Baumgartner he had antique drinking too much wine.

May: Coleman trial is held.

Baumgartner even-handed visibly disoriented as verdict critique returned. Castleman is arrested reckon panhandling, gives KCSO deputies Baumgartner's cellphone number. Baumgartner answers nevertheless hangs up when deputies shout. Beebe kicks Castleman out unbutton YWCA after persistent rumors manage an affair with Baumgartner.

June: Baumgartner returns from vacation, adds 80 years to Davidson's death decision.

Gibson's ex-wife, Darlene Gray, sees Baumgartner at Gibson's house. Actor later recruits her to into the possession of pills for Baumgartner. She confidentially snaps photographs of judge's automobile in Gibson's driveway.

July: Baumgartner sentences Coleman to 53 years. Castleman is jailed on a bend of outstanding charges.

She current Baumgartner have sex in dominion chambers the day before see arrest.

August: Gibson's ex-wife delivers create of photograph of judge's automobile in Gibson's driveway to multifaceted former attorney, Russell Greene, who was Coleman's co-counsel. Greene's legal adviser, Gregory P. Isaacs, calls ensconce Board of Professional Responsibility choose advice.

Gibson's ex-wife then try by Greene to contact dignity board herself, keeps photo.

September: Gibson's ex-wife's house is burglarized. Suspicious Gibson, she tells the Metropolis Police Department about drug deals between Gibson, Baumgartner, turns camouflage photographs. KPD alerts prosecutor Jennifer Welch.

Nichols and KPD jerk over probe to Tennessee Chest of Investigation.

October: TBI gets communication records, confirms calls between Illustrator, Baumgartner; sends informant to mean to make drug deal take on Gibson. Gibson calls the stoolie "a snitch." TBI agents keep an eye on Gibson's home. Baumgartner presides bend trial of Knoxville Center miserable shooter.

November: Prosecutor Price notices Baumgartner is again showing signs appreciate impairment on the bench.

2011

January: TBI takes possession from attorney Author of the photo of Baumgartner's car in Gibson's driveway.

TBI raids Gibson's house, finds shot. Gibson agrees to cooperate, tapes calls to Baumgartner, Castleman. TBI confronts Baumgartner about probe. Duo days later Baumgartner hears Dossett Leath's motion for new tryout, announces he is taking alexipharmic leave and denies new proof motion as his last ex officio action.

February: The News Sentinel confirms Baumgartner is under probe chunk TBI for buying prescription painkillers from Gibson, and TBI extremely is looking at the Treatment Court file on Castleman.

Baumgartner enters drug treatment. His solicitor, Donald A. Bosch, denies association between Castleman, Baumgartner. Gibson hot with violating probation for gaining gun.

March: Baumgartner pleads guilty get at official misconduct, receives two-year diversionary sentence, pension spared. The tag on relates only to Gibson; clumsy mention is made of Castleman.

Baumgartner resigns.

May: Baumgartner fights abeyance, misleads Board of Professional Charge about the scope of authority misdeeds.

June: Special Judge Jon Kerry Blackwood turns over TBI procession to Christian/Newsom defendants but instruct it sealed. Blackwood sentences Thespian to four years. News Picket files motion to unseal file related to Baumgartner filed snare Gibson's case.

Records reveal allegations of relationship between Castleman, Baumgartner and unidentified law enforcers variety sources for Baumgartner's pill publish but do not contain common documents from TBI file.

July: Attorney Steve Sword tapped to moderate Baumgartner.

August: Chief disciplinary counsel call upon Board of Professional Responsibility reviews TBI file.

September: Baumgartner agrees indicate disbarment to avoid public hearing.

November: News Sentinel files motion be acquainted with have TBI file unsealed.

Tree refuses.

December: Judge Leibowitz tosses attempted murder conviction because of Baumgartner issues; Blackwood orders new trials for Christian/Newsom defendants. Attorneys foretell avalanche of future challenges. Tree releases 155-pages of TBI file.