A Hawkins County judge accused of judicial misconduct has agreed to resign.
Judge James Taylor is accused of taking more than $9,000 from a client for personal benefit and claiming payment to serve as counsel in cases that came before him as a general sessions judge.
On Friday, the Court of the Judiciary announced that Taylor has agreed to an immediate suspension and will resign effective May 1.
This action settles the misconduct charges before the Court of the Judiciary, but "in no way affects or applies to any other actions or litigation that may arise from the facts alleged in these formal charges."
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A Hawkins County attorney who also works as a juvenile court and general sessions judge has been formally charged with violating the state's judicial code of conduct for taking money from clients for his personal benefit and for claiming payment for services that he didn't perform.
According to the charges filed Tuesday by the disciplinary counsel for the Tennessee Court of the Judiciary, Judge James Taylor is accused of five counts of misconduct. He has 30 days to file a response with the court. There was no answer at his office in Rogersville on Tuesday afternoon.
Taylor is accused of taking more than $9,000 from a client for personal benefit and claiming payment to serve as counsel in cases that came before him as a general sessions judge.