Yesterday, Knox County Criminal Court Clerk Elect Mike Hammond announced the naming of his chief deputy. He named Richard Major, who will begin when Hammond officially takes office on September 3, 2014.

Major has served Knox County as judicial commissioner aka Magistrate. He is a fantastic addition. Several Criminal Defense Attorneys tried to use Hammond’s business experience but lack of legal expertise against him in the election. Hammond is the kind of leader that recognizes he doesn’t know what he doesn’t know and takes his experience and names someone with the legal experience.

Congrats to Hammond and Major for forming a winning team to finally reset the almost 6 year failed experiment that has been the post Martha Phillips era. McCroskey was elected in 2008 and then reelected in 2010. She opted not to seek election this year.