Friday, June 7, 2019

Contact: Sunny M. Eaton, Esq.

731 Porter Road
Nashville, TN 37206

Tennessee Governor’s Office

Bill Lee, Governor
cc: Lang Wiseman, Deputy to the Governor & Chief Counsel
State Capitol, 1st Floor
600 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard
Nashville, TN 37243

RE: District Attorney General, Craig Northcott

Coffee County, Tennessee

To the Honorable Governor Bill Lee,

We, the undersigned members and future-members of the Tennessee Bar, write to express our
outrage and disappointment at Coffee County District Attorney General, Craig Northcott’s failure
to uphold his oath of office, to maintain the ethical standards for licensed attorneys in this state or
to protect the very citizens he is mandated to serve.

On June 3, 2019, several media outlets, local and national, reported on statements made last year
(March, 2018) by the elected District Attorney General for Coffee County, Tennessee, Craig
Northcott, while addressing the Chafer Theological Seminary Pastors’ Conference.

Mr. Northcott was giving a speech titled “The Role of the Local Church in Government.” At every
turn, the speech, captured on video, demonstrated that Mr. Northcott does not have the moral
authority or ethical judgment expected of any licensed attorney in the State of Tennessee much
less that of an elected District Attorney General.

Responding to a question from an audience member about gay marriage and its status under the
law, Mr. Northcott bragged that a District Attorney has unfettered discretion in whom to prosecute
or not prosecute.

Using criminal domestic violence charges as a particularly disturbing example of the power
wielded by his office, Northcott commented:

"So the social engineers on the Supreme Court decided that we now have
homosexual marriage. I disagree with them.

"What do I do with domestic assaults? On one hand I don't prosecute them because
I don't recognize it as marriage. On the other hand, if I don't prosecute them then
the sinner—the immoral guy—gets less punishment. What do you do?

"Well the reason where I came down in my evaluation was the reason that there's
extra punishment on domestic violence is to recognize and protect the sanctity of
 marriage. And I said there's no marriage to protect. So I don't prosecute them as
domestics."

Mr. Northcott stated that he does not recognize gay marriage and therefore, would not bring
domestic violence charges against gay individuals.

We find this disturbing and unacceptable on multiple levels, the least of which being Mr.
Northcott’s misunderstanding of domestic violence law in the State of Tennessee where marriage
or even romantic status is not an essential element for a charge of domestic assault.

T.C.A. Code 39-13-111

(a) As used in this section, "domestic abuse victim" means any person who falls within the
following categories:
(1) Adults or minors who are current or former spouses;
(2) Adults or minors who live together or who have lived together;
(3) Adults or minors who are dating or who have dated or who have or had a sexual relationship,
but does not include fraternization between two (2) individuals in a business or social context;
(4) Adults or minors related by blood or adoption;
(5) Adults or minors who are related or were formerly related by marriage; or
(6) Adult or minor children of a person in a relationship that is described in subdivisions (a)(1)-
(5).

But far beyond the issue of the marital status of gay individuals (though, gay marriage is the law
of the land) are the ethical implications of a District Attorney who will not serve nor protect the
constitutional rights of citizens without first subjecting them to a test of sexuality or religious-
beliefs.

This is the highest level of prosecutorial misconduct and abuse of discretion. He goes further and
appears to encourage other elected officials such as clerks to act in a lawless manner with the
confidence that “good, Christian, men,” when elected, will protect them from criminal prosecution.

Gay citizens are not the only group at which Mr. Northcott has taken aim when it comes to rejecting
his ethical obligations. He has previously made statements on social media that Americans of
Islamic faith or any faith that does not believe in “one true God” do not have the same
constitutional rights as their Christian counterparts. The implications and effects on the day-to-
day practice of law are far reaching and erode public-trust in our criminal system.

For example, the standard for recusal requires only the appearance of bias. State v. Cannon, 254
S.W.3d 287, 307 (Tenn. 2008) (quoting Davis v. Liberty Mut. Ins. Co., 38 S.W.3d 560, 564 (Tenn.
2001)). “[T]he test for recusal is an objective one because the appearance of bias is just as injurious
to the integrity of the courts as actual bias.” Id. at 307.

By specifically singling out two groups on different occasions and expressly rejecting equal
protection for these groups, there is more than merely an “appearance” of bias against them.
Additionally, every other minority or protected group he may not deem worthy is at risk.

Every defense attorney having a client that does not meet whatever arbitrary standards Mr.
Northcott has set for morality, race, sexuality or religion must file a motion to recuse the Coffee
County District Attorney’s Office. Mr. Northcott’s statements have the direct result of requiring
that a disqualification motion be filed in order for defense attorneys to render the constitutionally
required effective assistance of Counsel. Considering the totality of these facts, the role of his
office, and the legal standard for disqualification, this is not hyperbole. Mr. Northcott has gone
far beyond appearing to have bias, he has doubled-down and boasted about his applications of that
bias.

Rule 3.8 [Comment 1] of the Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct mandates that prosecutors
are expected ‘to be impartial in the sense that charging decisions should be based upon the
evidence, without discrimination or bias for or against any groups or individuals. Yet, at the same
time, they are expected to prosecute criminal offenses with zeal and vigor within the bounds of the
law and professional conduct.” State v. Culbreath, 30 S.W.3d 309, 314 (Tenn. 2000).

Mr. Northcott’s own statements regarding the power of his office and his insistence that his
personal religious beliefs override the constitutional rights of the citizens in his county violate both
the spirit and plain language of Rule 3.8.

A knowing disregard of obligations or a systematic abuse of prosecutorial discretion constitutes a

violation of Tennessee Rule of Professional Conduct 8.4. Tennessee Rule of Professional Conduct
8.4 §§ (c) states that it is professional misconduct for an attorney to engage in conduct involving
dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation and (d) specifically addresses conduct that is
prejudicial to the administration of justice. When Mr. Northcott swore an oath to become an
attorney and represented intentions to uphold the constitution and laws of this country, he was
acting dishonestly. During his speech, Mr. Northcott plainly stated his practice and intentions to
act outside those very laws and instead set office policies based upon his personal beliefs.

We watch with deep distress as the actions of Mr. Northcott cast a cloud over the Bar’s reputation
in the national spotlight. We call upon Governor Bill Lee to restore ethical leadership to Coffee
County, to remove Mr. Northcott from his position and to stand up for our highest ideals as Public
Servants and Tennesseans.

Sincerely Yours,

Sunny M. Eaton, TN BPR #025364

Martesha Johnson, TN BPR #027331
Alysse Gregory, TN BPR #036306
Kimberly Thomas Messmore, TN BPR #024749
Amy Goodwin, TN BPR #022811
Willow Fort, TN BPR #022483 (federal exempt)
Jeremy Parham, TN BPR #022222
Chelsea Nicholson, TN BPR #028882
Dustin Faeder, TN BPR #032581
Marie Stacey, TN BPR #028747
Bailey Harned, TN BPR #027280
Milca Castillo, TN BPR #036693
Joe Byrd, TN BPR #009915
Michelle Marshall, 3L
Marjorie Kaup Haines, TN BPR #026345
David King, TN BPR #07311
Karen Henson, TN BPR #031668
Bill Edwards, TN BPR #026284
Jessica Taylor, TN BPR #031696
Mary Bristow, TN BPR #005660
Kevin Teets, TN BPR #029981
Robbie Hancock Bell, TN BPR #010900
Sonia Jennings Boss, TN BPR #033827
Lisa A. White, TN BPR #026658
Jennifer Moore Porth, TN BPR #026537
Rebecca Montgomery, TN BPR #013913
Whitney Frazier Earnest, TN BPR #027237
Elizabeth Logsdon, TN BPR #032066
Tasha Blakney, TN BPR #019971
Brittany Bane, TN BPR #037103
Elizabeth Spurbeck, 3L
Anne Hunter, TN BPR #022407
Genna M. Lutz, TN BPR #028338

Julie Grace Hamner, TN BPR #022408

Brandy Davis, TN BPR #034723
Sandy Jones Phillips, TN BPR #026891
David Baker, TN BPR #14238
Whitney Harrington, TN BPR #021365
Julia Spannaus, TN BPR #027802
Audrey Grossman, TN BPR #023399
Lauren Davis, TN BPR #035980
Hannah Dokkestul, 2L
Kimberly Foxall Williams, TN BPR #035899
Robin Givens Moore, TN BPR #032995
Denise F. Sandifar, TN BPR #034827
Jenney Springer Keatey, TN BPR #027554
Crystal Wilkerson, TN BPR #031823
Stephanie J. Pirera, TN BPR #032503
Elizabeth Taylor, TN BPR #028111
Tiffany Hagar, TN BPR #029190
Jeff Levine, TN BPR #015532
Kristi Bernard Bennett, TN BPR #020633
Catherine Post, TN BPR #036537
Monica J. Franklin, TN BPR #015461
Brandy Arena, TN BPR #035031
M. Elizabeth Yarbrough, TN BPR #022597
Michael R. Working, TN BPR #025118
Leigh Taylor-White, TN BPR #025108
Sarah Larkin, TN BPR #027632
Bethany Peery Glandorf, TN BPR #027459
Joy Watson Nguyen, TN BPR #036887
Taryn Anderson, 3L
Amanda Busch, TN BPR #035064
Jennifer Cameron Kellett, TN BPR #020675
Chris Dummer-Sutherland, TN BPR #017956
Sally Ramsey, TN BPR #018859
Jay Moreland, TN BPR #033764
Eugenia Grayer, TN BPR #023276
Loren Sanderson, TN BPR #031688
Joshua Brand, TN BPR #027990
Amber Lee, TN BPR #028497
Elaine Wiltermood, TN BPR #036262
Megan Smith Zarling, TN BPR #036577
Sandra Jones, TN BPR #007082
Victoria Herman, TN BPR #033339
Katie Wise, TN BPR #033633
Amy Campbell Blackwell, TN BPR #020654
Christina Zettersten, TN BPR #032986
Ashby Scott, TN BPR #023007
Julie Riggs, TN BPR #035679
Andrea Hayduk, TN BPR #026777
Sara Compher-Rice, TN BPR #022050
Amanda J. Gentry, TN BPR #32498
Ben Raybin, TN BPR # 29350
Keith Lowe, TN BPR #026446
Thomas Maynard, TN BPR #024586
Blake Taylor, 3L
Luke Hammond, TN BPR #030015
Kyle Vaughan, TN BPR #032416
Laurent Wills, TN BPR #033628
Bryan Stephenson, TN BPR #023908
Brandi Murrell, TN BPR #030277
Caleb Cassell, TN BPR #036311
Douglas Trant, TN BPR #006871
John Webb, TN BPR #027738
Collier Goodlett, TN BPR #006338
Jason Chaffin, TN BPR # 027140
Jack Byrd, TN BPR #024091
Lawrence Ballew, TN BPR #, 025252
Suzanne Westerman Landers, TN BPR #011425
Elizabeth Woodard, TN BPR #037196
Laura Dykes, TN BPR #012061
Bernie McEvoy, TN BPR #014405
Courtney Teasley, TN BPR #031754
Sabrina Ball, TN BPR #014239
Jessica Doyle, TN BPR #025465
David Baker, TN BPR #14238
Eddie Herbert, TN BPR #033337
Meggan Bass Sullivan, TN BPR #03367
Colby Block, TN BPR #031799
Amanda Dunavant, TN BPR #033274
Katie Hagan, TN BPR #22122
Amanda Jelks, TN BPR #029566
Sidney Bennett, TN BPR #010371
Erin Coleman, TN BPR # 034887
Andreas Deason Pierpoint, TN BPR #037214
Susan Mackenzie, TN BPR #012162
Allen Slater, 2L
Richard Strong, TN BPR # 023049
Carolina Martin, TN BPR #033425
Elizabeth R. McClellan, TN BPR #031498
Eric Larsen, TN BPR #29853
Lisa Webb, TN BPR #33047
Julia Price, TN BPR #029250
Teresa Morgan, TN BPPR #033448
Jennifer Vessels, TN BPR #023942
Stacie Odeneal, TN BPR #25988
Cheryl Cheffins, TN BPR #32032
Sarah Croghan King, TN BPR #025505
Jason Gichner, TN BPR #22100
Lori R. Holyfield, TN BPR #31369
Jackon Fenner, TN BPR #030459
Atina Rizk Stavropoulos, TN BPR #031686
Brigid Mahoney Caldwell, TN BPR #35068
Brandy N. Davis, TN BPR # 034723
Marie Drake, TN BPR #30754
Cynthia Pensoneau, TN BPR #022230
Michelle Handelsman, TN BPR #33328
Amy Sosinski, TN BPR #034452
Betsy Prendergast, TN BPR #025641
Tarsila Reybitz Crawford, TN BPR #027170
Rachel Welty, TN BPR #026031
Tina Perrusquia, TN BPR #019484
Greg Atwood, TN BPR #024296
LaTasha Thomas, TN BPR #027583
Marjorie Bristol, TN BPR #019988
Daniel Ayoade Yoon, TN BPR #028798
John Winston Heacock, TN BPR #17400
Lisa Stanley, TN BPR #024725
Melissa Bourn, TN BPR #033663
Melissa Plass Jewell, T BPR # 12459
Mickie Smith Daugherty, TN BPR #022746
Susan Hinsley, TN BPR #020127
Jon Seaborg, TN BPR #5055
Adrianne G. Thompson, TN BPR #031836
Susan Hinsley, TN BPR #020127
C. Dawn Deaner, TN BPR #017948
Gordon Byars, TN BPR #032604
Autum Witt-Boyd, TN BPR #23972
Meredith Silva, TN BPR #035568
Brad Frakes, TN BPR #027234
Robb Bigelow, TN BPR #022022
Brittany Dinaso, TN BPR #035986
Katie Onks Stone, TN BPR #023812
Stef Brake, 3L
Rachel Lambert, TN BPR #031200
Lynn Newcomb, TN BPR #030280
Lauren Biloski, TN BPR #025269
Courtney Meghan Kelly, TN BPR #035477
Logan Elliott, 3L
Sarah M. Turner, TN BPR #29432
Mickie Smith Daugherty, TN BPR #022746
Eleanor Wetzel, TN BPR #022338
Stephenie Booher, TN BPR #021397
Whitney Raque, TN BPR #031781
Bo Taylor, TN BPR #13974
George Waggoner, TN BPR #028755
Julia Trant, TN BPR #035925
Kathryn Smith King, TN BPR #025080
Michelle Caggiano, TN BPR #031054
Tessa March, TN BPR #036297
John Romero, 3L
Jennifer Dilley, TN BPR #037066
Lindsey Shepard, TN BPR #34444
Kaleigh Rose Thacker, TN BPR #033578
Paige Lyle, TN BPR #032959
Houston Lyle, TN BPR #031838
Cristy C. Cooper, TN BPR #023570
Sarah Martin, Student TN BPR #858230
Monica Timmerman, TN BPR #31536
Sherry Goodwin, TN BPR #16115
Claiborne Ferguson, TN BPR #20457
Philip N. Clark, TN BPR #034182
Amanda Moore, TN BPR #027804
Betsy Hardin Stibler, TN BPR #035340
Sarah M. Turner, TN BPR #29432
William Leslie, TN BPR #036098
Melissa Hunter Smith, TN BPR #26387
Heather Grewe, Student TN BPR #858526
James M. Allen, TN BPR #015968
Nicole M. Arsenault, TN BPR #030739
Brittany Gates, TN BPR #030936
Kyonzte Hughes-Toombs, TN BPR #023702
Kristi Murray, TN BPR #026496
Meghan Cox, TN BPR #33028
Karen Morris, 3L
C. Nicole Benjamin, TN BPR #031851
John H. Morris, TN BPR #35789
Carole Marisa Lee Combs, TN BPR #024369
Tara N. Gess, TN BPR #033849
David Kieley, TN BPR #031188
Janeita Lentz, TN BPR #028558
Kyle Morris, TN BPR #037274
Emma Rae Tennent, TN BPR #017406
Emily Herbert, TN BPR #030179
Rachel S. Upshaw, TN BPR #025683
John Murphy, 3L
James McNamara, TN BPR #18127
Ryan C. Davis, TN BPR #34588
Karla Cauthen Miller, TN BPR #018037
Amy Johnson, TN BPR #031349
Caroline LaBrec, TN BPR #26865
Julia Tate-Keith, TN BPR #013973
Ronald Vrablik, TN BPR #028570
Anna Phillips, TN BPR #30646
Elizabeth W. Fyke, TN BPR #032118
Whitney Standefer-Smith, TN BPR #033559
Sharon Ruiz, TN BPR #22266
Blair Chilton, TN BPR #034179
C. Mark Donahoe, TN BPR #014049
Joe Ozment, TN BPR #15601
C. Ann Tipton, TN BPR #016317
Marcus Shute, TN BPR #34032
Amanda McCullough, TN BPR #030606
Nicole Uribe, TN BPR #030919
Amber Floyd, TN BPR #29160
Caitlyn Elledge, TN BPR #033653
Jessica Taylor Levine, TN BPR #033065
Carmen Lisette Tant, TN BPR #021027
Wendy Tucker, TN BPR #015703
Jamie Johnson, TN BPR #029427
Jeffrey A.Vanderburg, TN BPR #030935
Lisa A. Harris, TN BPR #27286
Ryan Terrell, 3L
Mitzi Hall, TN BPR #029948
David Von Wiegandt, TN BPR #031324
Samuel Anthony Silva, TN BPR #027538
Rosemary Sprague, TN BPR #025098
Sarah Digby, TN BPR #032332
Anne Berry, TN BPR #034145
Julie Randall Pablo, TN BPR #021628
Jessica Dragonetti, TN BPR #034215
Jason Fisher, TN BPR #030553
Rick Dumas, TN BPR #020454
Erin A. Stubbs, TN BPR #032556
Kimberly Cooper, TN BPR #020030
Emily O. Roberts, TN BPR #26555
Zachary A. Beard, 3L
Leah Loyd Hillis, TN BPR # 024573
Joseph Kwon, TN BPR #036694
Dumaka Shabazz, TN BPR #022278
Rachelle Windrow Ayers, TN BPR #021093
Anne T. McKnight, TN BPR #02476
Jess L. Morgan, TN BPR #036131
Jennifer M Eberle, TN BPR #021454
Catherine J. Phan, TN BPR #028005
Rebecca L. McFadden, 2L
Joanie Stallard Stewart, TN BPR #022300
Keith D. Stewart, TN BPR #17574
Derric Jonathan Augusta, TN BPR #025880
Rose Mary Drake, TN BPR #10947
Christopher Wood, TN BPR #032977
Stacy Sisco, TN BPR #019177
Wes Oliver, TN BPR #18165
Lindsay N. Graham, TN BPR #031440
George J. Duzane, TN BPR #6461
Wencke West, TN BPR #032568
Patricia Woods, TN BPR #19202
Brandi L. Heiden, TN BPR #034088
Jennifer Sloan White, TN BPR #022291
Kevin Kelly, TN BPR #027345
Derek K. Burks, TN BPR #022705
Stella Yarbrough, TN BPR #033637
James Dallas, (TN License Pending)
Brittania Poon, TN BPR #035289
Andrew Sullivan, TN BPR #035348
Zachary Carden, TN BPR #036752
Jessica Gichner, TN BPR #22105
Kristin Neff, TN BPR#024634
Anne Protano-Biggs, TN BPR#026895
Kyle Mothershead, TN BPR #022953
Tiffany Hagar, TN BPR#029190
Cynthia Bohn, TN BPR #016592
Mary Littleton, TN BPR #020180
William Conway, TN BPR #026808
Laura Rogers, TN BPR #20985
Rebecca Garland, TN BPR #020774
Kenneth Merriweather, TN BPR #034358
Lesli Oliver Wright, TN BPR #033147
Loy Carney, TN BPR #029984
Sheree Hoffman, TN BPR #10241
Melissa Morris, TN BPR #035018
Alison Helen Lorna McKenzie, TN BPR #028725
Claire Gold, TN BPR #027353
Laura Tek, TN BPR # 016523
Jane Ellen Cassell, TN BPR #036079
Sheree L. Hoffman, TN BPR #10241
Pamela Fleming, TN BPR #021869
John Spragens, TN BPR #031445
Derek Scott, Recent Graduate
Ashley Preston, TN BPR #025624
Georgia Sims, TN BPR #028185
Jesse Lee Ford, TN BPR #032105
Jenna D’Agostino Wingo, TN BPR #035468
Joyce Grimes Safley, TN BPR #013809
Karen Hall, TN BPR #19095
Gina Helou Allen, TN BPR #028710
Andy Rowlett, TN BPR #016277
Britanny M. Bartkowiak, TN BPR #031637
Patrick Denton, TN BPR #023594
Anne T. McKnight, TN BPR #026476
Elizabeth Russell, TN BPR #32468
Cynthia Chappell, TN BPR #016028
Michael Craig, TN BPR #33835
Paige Waldrop Mills, TN BPR #016218
Kate Redding Armes, TN BPR #025650
Trudy Bloodworth, TN BPR #20431
Simone Marshall, TN BPR #037046
Gere Beason, TN BPR #028439
Ben Houston, TN BPR #02365
Kevin Alonso, TN BPR #027065
Joshua Spickler, TN BPR#21019
Anna Vasquez, TN BPR #030435
Megan Duthie, TN BPR #035699
Mary Miller, TN BPR #013209
Sean Martin, TN BPR #020196
Todd Covert, TN BPR #020696