DUANE SHERRILLEditor

The trial for Tullahoma alderman Kurt Glick has been bumped until at least November after his defense filed a motion, protesting that the special prosecutor in the case is himself an accused felon and is facing legal issues of his own.

Glick was to face trial Sept. 15 on two counts of official misconduct for his allegedly not revealing he had a conflict of interest–namely a civil suit pending–when he voted on a measure that impacted the city’s former human resources director, Casta Brice. Prosecutors say his actions abused his power while the defense maintained he was doing his elected duty and voting on a measure as an alderman. He was indicted on two counts but his case was placed under the oversight of 31^st District Circuit Court Judge Bart Stanley due to potential conflicts with using a local judge and the local district attorney Craig Northcott.

As part of the assignment, the 31^st Judicial District Attorney Christopher Stanford, also of neighboring Warren County, was appointed to prosecute the case. Stanford successfully argued and convinced the court not to dismiss charges against Glick during a hearing last year. However, since that time, Stanford has fallen into trouble with the law himself having been indicted in DeKalb County (Smithville) on two counts of reckless endangerment.

The incident, which Glick’s defense team pointed to, happened last year as Warren County lawmen were trying to arrest a trio of alleged murders in Smithville. At some point during the action, an officer was allegedly hit by one of the fleeing suspects and Stanford allegedly pulled a gun and opened fire on the moving vehicle. The shots missed their target but allegedly hit a family’s home nearby. Prosecutors in DeKalb County found his actions to be reckless and returned an indictment against the DA. Stanford is still serving as DA.

“Without addressing or presuming the merits of those allegations, the fact remains that a sitting District Attorney Pro-Tem is prosecuting a felony case while himself facing felony prosecution,” the request for substituting the prosecutor argued, noting the quandary may distract potential jurors and that the integrity of proceedings against Glick could become compromised.

The defense for Glick pointed out that Stanford does not come before hearing in DeKalb until Sept. 23, which would have been after the alderman’s trial. Regardless, the defense wants the District Attorney General’s Conference to appoint a new special prosecutor.

Judge Stanley agreed to revisit the Glick issue on Nov. 12, thereby granting the request for a delay until the next hearing on the Stanford case is held. Glick remains on the city board and maintains his innocence of the charges he faces. His civil suit against the city for age discrimination–raised from when he was parks and recreation director–remains in limbo until his criminal case is resolved.