Montgomery and Robertson counties have a new judge: Kathryn Olita of Clarksville, who will fill the trial court judgeship added this year by the state.
Gov. Bill Haslam has appointed Olita as Circuit Court judge for the 19th Judicial District.
“I am grateful for Katy Olita’s willingness to serve the citizens of the 19th Judicial District in this newly created position,” Haslam said in a news release. “I’m confident that her experience, knowledge and integrity will be assets to the district.”
Olita was chosen from among three finalists. The other two were Robert Bateman of Montgomery County and John B. Holt of Robertson County. The three were selected by the state’s Trial Court Vacancy Commission after interviews with eight applicants.
She joins four other judges for the 19th district: William Goodman, Jill Ayers, Ted Crozier Jr. and Ross Hicks.
Olita has practiced law for 15 years in Middle and West Tennessee, most recently with the firm Batson Nolan in Clarksville since 2006. Her practice also includes serving as board attorney to the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System. Olita began her practice at Rosenblum & Reisman in Memphis, where she worked from 2003-06, the release said.
She has made successful oral arguments before the Tennessee Court of Appeals and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit.
Olita received her law degree from the University of Memphis and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.