Cathy has extensive experience in document drafting, litigation, local government law, staff management, human resources, budget development and fundraising with an excellent background in developing and implementing technology-based solutions for the workplace including integration with existing systems, and managing multi-location office operations. Her people-skills are unmatched.
From 1998 until 2018, Cathy was the elected five times as the Clerk (Administrator) of the Circuit, Civil Sessions, and Juvenile Courts for the Sixth Circuit of Tennessee during which she directed all aspects of daily operations, administrative management, budgeting, and process improvement for the Knox County courts (small claims, juvenile, child support, and general jurisdiction) for nine judges and seven hearing officers. She planned, administered, and managed a budget which included a $2.1 million payroll and a $1.1 million operational budget, and managed and invested more than $15 million in trust funds.
From 1991 to 1998, Cathy was a Deputy Law Director for Knox County, Tennessee and provided legal advice and defense to the Knox County Government regarding constitutional law, education law, student/teacher rights, employment issues, salary disputes, and union grievances. She advised, defended, and provided legal expertise to the Sheriff’s department, retirement board, library board, personnel board, school board and staff, and successfully defended the Knox County school system on numerous cases involving First Amendment issues, student discipline, Americans with Disabilities Act, and Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. She has litigated numerous issues including prisoner rights claims, employee benefit claims, and wrongful arrests, and has drafted and reviewed contracts, deeds, and policies for all departments of Knox County government.
From 1989 until 1991, Cathy was an Associate Attorney with the Knoxville law firm of Lockridge & Becker P. C.
In 1988 and 1989, Cathy was an Associate Attorney with the Knoxville law firm of Ritchie & Wise, P. C.
Cathy has a Juris Doctorate and Bachelor of Science from the University of Tennessee. She is a Certified Public Administrator, and an accomplished professional ballerina having attended Julliard School in New York.
Cathy is a member of the Tennessee Bar Association, American Bar Association, and is licensed to practice law before all courts in Tennessee and before the United States District Court, U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court.
Cathy has a daughter who is an IT specialist in Knoxville. Cathy lives in a log cabin in the woods with her husband, two wild and crazy miniature pinschers named Boogie and Sophie, and two macaws named Ms. Bird and Annabelle.