Knox County Commission appoints Andrea Klein to General Sessions Court, Division 4

The Knox County Commission on Dec. 8, 2025 appointed Andrea Klein to the Knox County General Sessions Court, Division 4, following a public hearing and interviews with three nominees. The commission announced an 8–2 vote in favor of Klein, with Commissioner Lee recused from the decision. Klein will serve until a successor is elected and sworn.

Klein told the commission she has roughly 30 years of legal experience and is currently an assistant district attorney, and said her career has prepared her to "immediately begin adjudicating cases in Sessions Court promptly, fairly, and responsibly." She highlighted building what she described as the state’s first elder-abuse special prosecution unit and said she helped draft legislation that strengthened protections for elderly and vulnerable adults.

Rhonda Lee, who identified herself during the hearing as a Knox County commissioner and a practicing defense attorney, framed her candidacy as rooted in personal experience and public service. Lee said she would run for the seat in the May primary if not appointed, and described 13 years of criminal indigent-defense work across several counties. Kevin Teeters, a longtime assistant district attorney and sessions-court team leader, said he would be ready to assume the bench immediately if appointed and emphasized predictability and consistency in courtroom decision-making.

Commissioners questioned all three nominees on temperament, independence, docket control and possible reforms to reduce backlog. The candidates described Sessions Court as high-volume and "controlled chaos" and discussed practical steps such as better stakeholder coordination, cross-court cooperation and, as Lee noted, the longer-term possibility of additional courtroom capacity subject to finance and logistics. Klein cited what she stated were about "75,000 cases that processed through the Sessions Court" between 2024 and 2025 to underscore docket pressures.

On professional discipline, Klein said she has never had to answer a complaint to the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility in her 30-year career. Lee acknowledged that a complaint had been filed against her but described it as politically motivated and said no action was taken. Teeters said he was not aware of any complaints against him.

After the interviews, commissioners opened nominations in a public hearing. Commissioners announced their preferences publicly; the chair then read a resolution appointing Klein "to serve until a successor is elected and sworn." The commission approved the resolution by voice vote and the appointment was recorded.

Klein’s appointment fills the vacancy in Division 4 until the next election cycle. The resolution read into the record specified the temporary nature of the appointment and the procedural next step — an election and swearing-in of a successor.

The commission adjourned after completing the appointment process.