Right to petition — we can do it in courts, too, radio’s Sapp insists

Food truck operator Bridges gets strong support in court from radio midstate bureau chief Christopher Sapp, who says constitution forbids her abuse by Sparta, Tenn., officials

Kristi Bridges of Sparta, Tenn., works in her food truck, focus of city of Sparta harassment under a sequence of illicit demands, according to Christopher Sapp, radio midstate bureau chief who files a petition of right in her favor in the city court overseen by Macey Gurley, the appointed city court judge. (Photo Kristi Bridges)

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn., June 25, 2023 — We have a requirement to petition the government through the courts, but not necessarily as part of the lawsuit. 

Macey Gurley is city court judge in Sparta, Tenn.

This concept of a nonlawsuit petition of right is fresh off the press today at the NoogaRadio Network following a Wednesday presentation by midstate bureau chief Christopher Sapp in the city court of Sparta, Tenn., in White County, between Chattanooga and Nashville. 

Mr. Sapp presents a petition for relief, akin to an amicus curiae, that runs with the defense of Kristie Bridges, food truck operator harassed by the city, an argument parallel to her defense and not for Mrs. Bridges, as might be done by a lawyer representing her or speaking on her behalf. Mr. Sapp is not a lawyer, and not in the court on her behalf; he is in court on behalf of the people of the city and state, he says.

Mr. Sapp says the constitutional right to petition in Tennessee should not be understood merely as activity of redress of grievance aimed at the general assembly or a county commission. Citizens of Tennessee can deliver petitions of right to courts, too. Many bailiffs cry out during a day’s doings, “Whomsoever has business before this court come and present yourself” or some such blanket invite.

Kristi Bridges cooks in her Sparta, Tenn., food trailer. She has all proper permits, and his being criminally cited by a city inspector to city court for not having gotten permission of a competitor to run her business in the parking lot of a local store. (Photo Kristi Bridges)

Tennesseans have a right of “address or remonstrance” in Tenn. const. Art. 1, sect. 23. They have a right “ to apply to those invested with the powers of government for redress of grievances, or other proper purposes.”

Generally, Mr. Sapp says, people understand such exercises of redress as political, in political venues. But the provision does not limit remonstrances and petitions solely to councils, commissions or assemblies. They can be injected into courts, he says.

Mr. Sapp systematically outlines his legal authority to inject himself as a friendly petitioner aligned with Mrs. Bridges in his eight-page “petition of right.” Among the grievances: Mrs. Bridges is required to get written permission from a competitor nearby to be in business.

The arguments made by Mr. Sapp are that our rights to petition are in the bill of rights of the Tennessee constitution and do not necessarily face a limit as to venue.

City court judge Macey Gurley dismisses the case as moot, as Mrs. Bridges has moved her food truck to the parking lot of Mr. Sapp, who repairs computers at Computer Doctor parttime while working in the Tennessee press.

Sapp argues for petition power

https://www.facebook.com/TNtrafficticket/videos/1063509221720846