https://www.newschannel5.com/news/newschannel-5-investigates/capitol-hill/tennessee-prosecutor-gay-people-not-entitled-to-domestic-violence-protections

Background - Craig Northcott Video and Why I'm Writing this Petition

This petition asks Craig Northcott to resign from his office as the District Attorney General of Coffee County, TN. Usually known for the Bonnaroo Music Festival, Coffee County is in the public eye after Northcott made several remarks about his prosecutorial policy towards domestic violence. At a conference for Dean Bible Ministries, Northcott said, in no uncertain terms, that he will not prosecute domestic violence allegations if the victim is gay. The video of the remarks is in the link above.

These statements mark his callous indifference to the victims in his community and solidify his official policy of denying justice in favor of personal politics. This petition asks Mr. Northcott to resign from office.

If he refuses, this petition serves as a call to the citizens and officials of Coffee County to hold their elected official accountable for his feckless prosecutorial decisions. I've copied my letter to the Mayor and County Commissioners of Coffee County. I will send a similar letter to the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility. Thank you for reading and please sign my petition.

My Letter to Coffee County Officials

1329 McArthur Street

Suite 1

Manchester, TN 37355

Re: The Honorable District Craig Northcott Extrajudicial Comments

Dear Representatives of Coffee County:

My name is Chase Parker, and I am a native Tennessean and an attorney in Chattanooga. I am writing to address District Attorney General Craig Northcott’s stated prosecutorial policy on domestic violence. I understand his comments to mean he has established a policy of denying prosecutorial justice to domestic violence victims in your circuit. As an elected official of your county, I ask that you denounce this policy for what it is: shutting the doors of the courthouse to make a point of personal politics.

I urge you to examine Mr. Northcott's recent rhetoric and the image it conveys of the Coffee County government. His policy is your policy. That is, domestic violence laws exist solely to “protect the sanctity of [Christian] marriage” and, therefore, same-sex unions are not entitled to domestic violence protection. Phil Williams. Tennessee prosecutor: Gay People not entitled to domestic violence protections, News Channel 5 (June 3 2019).

Lawyer or layperson, you are more than capable of seeing that this misrepresents our legislator’s intent and the plain reading of Tennessee’s domestic violence statute. T.C.A. § 39-13-111 (a)(2). His interpretation is projection, a retrofitting of his own religious beliefs into our secular law so that he might, in his own words, be a “minister of the Gospel” through his office. See Williams.

As District Attorney General, he is called by our highest court and the citizens of Coffee County not to be a “minister of the Gospel” but rather a “minister of justice” who makes charging decisions “…without discrimination or bias for or against any groups or individuals.” State v. Superior Oil, Inc. 875 S.W.2d 658, 661 (Tenn. 1994); State v. Culbreath, 30 S.W.3d 309, 314 (Tenn. 2000). He has failed in this regard.

My hope is that you now see this policy does little more than embarrass the citizens of our state and re-victimize those who need the protection of our law. I, again, ask that you condemn this policy. The citizens of our state deserve the confidence that our elected officials will follow the law without bias or personal motivation.

Mr. Northcott’s prosecutorial immunity and discretion protects him from the courts he practices in, but he is not immune from his community. You are the voice of that community. Hold Mr. Northcott accountable for his abuse of discretion and in failing to seek justice. If the law does not move you to act, I leave you with this:

“Defend the poor and the fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.” Psalms 82:3-4 (KJV).

Best,

Chase Parker

Contact Info

You can find the Coffee County government directory at https://www.coffeecountytn.gov/213/County-Commission

The District Attorney General's Mailing Address is

P.O. Box 147

409 Madison St.

Manchester, TN 37349

Phone: (931) 723-5055

Fax: (931) 723-5058