OVERVIEW
The current leadership of the 10th Judicial District District Attorney’s Office faces significant legal and ethical scrutiny. The partnership between District Attorney General Stephen Hatchett and his hand-picked ADA, Paul Rush, may appear to some as inheriting and perpetuating the "administrative track record" of the Steve Bebb era—a period characterized by the protection of law enforcement and the public dismissal of crime victims.
POINT 1: THE "HATCHETT ATTACK" VIDEO (2014)
The Evidence: A televised news interview features Stephen Hatchett (then Chief Deputy under Bebb) attacking the credibility of an alleged crime victim, ADA Cindy Schemel, before any investigation into her assault allegations against Bebb had concluded.
The Present-Day Link: Hatchett’s documented habit of labeling victim allegations as "just politics" creates a direct conflict in the Brian "Wormy" Hodge case. Hodge, a former Monroe County reserve deputy, is currently facing sexual battery charges. Critics argue Hatchett cannot impartially prosecute a former deputy when his own record shows a history of shielding law enforcement "bosses" by discrediting their accusers.
POINT 2: THE "GOLDEN BOY" ADA PAUL RUSH (DISCIPLINARY HISTORY)
The Evidence: Despite being rejected by nearly 70% of local voters in a recent judicial bid, Paul Rush was appointed by Hatchett as a lead ADA in September 2024.
The Censure: Rush was publicly censured by the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility (TBPR) for intentionally withholding exculpatory evidence from the defense in a previous criminal case.
The Present-Day Link: Entrusting the "Wormy" Hodge prosecution to an ADA with a history of suppressing evidence risks a massive waste of taxpayer funds. Any verdict reached could be easily challenged or overturned due to the office’s lack of discovery integrity.
POINT 3: THE NEED FOR OUTSIDE PROSECUTION AND VENUE
The Argument: To ensure a fair trial for both the victim and the state, the Hodge case should be removed from the 10th District entirely.
Neutral Venue: Moving the case to a different venue separates the proceedings from the dense political web and local "loyalty culture" of the Bebb-Hatchett lineage.
Institutional Recusal: The combined history of Hatchett (attacking victims) and Rush (suppressing evidence) suggests that the conflict is not individual, but office-wide, necessitating the appointment of an outside prosecutor (Pro Tem) to ensure the standard of justice is met.
- Public Perception: In the "Bible Belt" region where family values are paramount, Hatchett's defense of a man accused of using the DA's office to subvert custody battles for friends is a significant point of contention. The "Hatchett Method": This early instance of Hatchett dismissing serious allegations as "just politics" establishes a pattern. For those following prior cases, it suggests that his first instinct as a prosecutor may be to protect the "administrative track record" of the office rather than investigate the claims of victims.
- The Pension Preservation: The fact that Bebb resigned early to save his pension is a well-known local detail that reinforces the "good old boy" narrative. Hatchett’s televised defense of Bebb during that same period is often viewed as his "loyalty test" that helped launch his own political career. This context reinforces the point: if the leader of the office (Hatchett) has a history of publicly discrediting victims and spinning the circumstances of high-level corruption, then the integrity of current sensitive cases—especially when handled by an ADA like Paul Rush with his own disciplinary record—is naturally called into question.
