US: Potsmoking judge charged with perjury

Chattanooga: A 65yearold Bedford County judge lied when he testified that
he knew nothing about his livein girlfriend's drug use, and he even smoked
marijuana with her, according to an indictment unsealed Monday.

General Sessions Judge Wyatt Nowlin Taylor was arrested Monday by FBI agents
as he walked into his courthouse in Shelbyville. He was charged with 10
counts of perjury and faces up to 50 years in prison if convicted.

Taylor, who also serves as the county's juvenile court judge, is accused of
lying during grand jury testimony in 1996 and at a federal trial in 1997
both involving drug charges against his girlfriend, Brenda Farrar Gordon,
30.

Authorities charge that from 1994 to 1996, Taylor knew Gordon used and
distributed marijuana and crack cocaine, and that they used marijuana
together.

Gordon agreed to work with the FBI in 1996 and taped conversations with
Taylor about her drug use, the indictment says.

But at her trial in April, Taylor testified he never knew she was involved
with drugs.

He denied Gordon told him that she, her sister and her father bought crack
cocaine from dealers including her uncle, Harold Farrar, ``one of the
biggest crack cocaine dealers in Shelbyville,'' according to the indictment.

Taylor appeared before U.S. Magistrate John Y. Powers in Chattanooga on
Monday. He was released on $10,000 bond and an arraignment was set for Dec.
1, where he will enter a plea and a January trial date will be set.

Attorney John Norton told Powers he would likely represent Taylor, but he
first wanted to review how that might affect cases his law firm has pending
before Bedford County General Sessions Court, where Taylor is the only
judge.

Taylor, who entered the courtroom with his hands cuffed in front of him, was
solemn during most of the hearing. Afterward, he was overheard telling an
investigator from Norton's office that he ``had to put his trust in the
Lord'' and that he couldn't worry about whether people in Shelbyville
believed he was innocent or guilty.

``I know I'm telling the truth,'' he said. Norton said Taylor will continue
his duties as judge ``because he has no reason not to.''

``He will not be holed up in his residence weathering out the storm,''
Norton said. ``He will be visible and public.''

Taylor does not have to resign his judgeship because of the charges. Supreme
Court spokeswoman Sue Allison said if Taylor is convicted ``he will be
deemed to have resigned,'' but until then can continue to serve on the
bench.

The charges against Taylor are the latest in a 30month probe into drug
trafficking in Bedford County, about 100 miles northwest of Chattanooga.

Gordon was one of 18 people from Shelbyville and Nashville charged with
federal drug offenses in April 1997. She and four family members were
convicted. She is serving a 10year prison term in Ohio.

Taylor, a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University, earned his law
degree in 1964 from the YMCA Night School of Law, now the Nashville School
of Law. He was appointed to fill an unexpired term as General Sessions Court
judge in 1980.

He won election to the bench in 1982, was reelected in 1990, and had
announced he will run again in 1998.