Seth Walker Norman
Encyclopedia
Seth Norman is a US judge, former Democrat regional politician, and former airman. He served on the Tennessee House of Representatives and, as a judge, founded the first and only court-operated residential drug court
in the United States.
, to John Edward (Jack) Norman and Carrie Laura Sneed Norman. He graduated from Duncan Preparatory School for Boys in 1951, enrolling that September at Vanderbilt University
. He voluntarily withdrew from Vanderbilt in September 1952 to enter military service.
on January 5, 1953, and attended basic training at Lackland Air Force Base
, San Antonio, Texas
before assignment to Keesler Field
, Biloxi, Mississippi
for electronics school. Norman applied for flight training in June 1953. He was assigned to the Aviation Cadet Training Pre-flight Program at Lackland Air Force Base in July, and then to Basic Observer Navigation training at Harlingen Air Force Base
in Texas in September. He undertook Advanced Navigation Training at James Connolly Air Force Base, Waco, Texas in July, 1954; he then completed training and commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in November 1954. In January 1955 Norman was assigned to the 581st Air Resupply Squadron
at Kadena Air Force Base, Okinawa, specifically as a navigator on a B-29 crew, though he also flew C-47
, C-119
, C-118
, B-26
, C-54
and SA-16's
. He was then reassigned to Brookley Air Force Base
in Mobile, Alabama in July 1956, where he was a navigator on the C-124
.
Norman was released from active duty in September 1957. He then joined the Tennessee Air National Guard
and remained there for six years.
, and in 1964 and 1968 won election to the Tennessee Democratic Executive Committee
, where he served for four years as Secretary. In 1968 he was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention
; he served also on the Democratic National Platform Committee
.
in September 1958, graduating in June 1962, and received his license to practice law in Tennessee. He entered the private practice of law with his father and brother.
In 1990 Norman was elected Judge of Division IV of the Criminal Court for Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee. He was re-elected to the position in 1998 and again in 2006 without opposition.
Judge Norman founded the Davidson County Drug Court, a long-term residential treatment program for non-violent felony offenders, over which he presides alongside his responsibilities as a criminal court judge. The program is the only court-operated residential drug court in the United States.
As of January 2009, Norman serves on the Governor's Criminal Justice Committee and the Safe & Drug Free Schools and Communities Advisory Committee for the United States Department of Education
. He is chairman of the board for the Nashville Drug Court Support Foundation. He has written many articles on drug courts and his drug court has been cited in many National publications.
Drug court
Drug Courts are judicially supervised court dockets that handle the cases of nonviolent substance abusing offenders under the adult, juvenile, family and tribal justice systems...
in the United States.
Early life
Norman was born in Nashville, TennesseeNashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, to John Edward (Jack) Norman and Carrie Laura Sneed Norman. He graduated from Duncan Preparatory School for Boys in 1951, enrolling that September at Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
. He voluntarily withdrew from Vanderbilt in September 1952 to enter military service.
Military service
Norman entered the United States Air ForceUnited States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
on January 5, 1953, and attended basic training at Lackland Air Force Base
Lackland Air Force Base
Lackland Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located west-southwest of San Antonio, Texas. The base is under the jurisdiction of the 802d Mission Support Group, Air Education and Training Command ....
, San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
before assignment to Keesler Field
Keesler Air Force Base
Keesler Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located in Biloxi, a city in Harrison County, Mississippi, United States. The base is named in honor of aviator 2d Lt Samuel Reeves Keesler, Jr., a Mississippi native killed in France in First World War.-Units:The base is home of...
, Biloxi, Mississippi
Biloxi, Mississippi
Biloxi is a city in Harrison County, Mississippi, in the United States. The 2010 census recorded the population as 44,054. Along with Gulfport, Biloxi is a county seat of Harrison County....
for electronics school. Norman applied for flight training in June 1953. He was assigned to the Aviation Cadet Training Pre-flight Program at Lackland Air Force Base in July, and then to Basic Observer Navigation training at Harlingen Air Force Base
Harlingen Air Force Base
Harlingen Air Force Base, originally Harlingen Army Airfield, is a former United States Air Force base located in northeast Harlingen, Texas, United States. After its closure, the airport was redeveloped into Valley International Airport....
in Texas in September. He undertook Advanced Navigation Training at James Connolly Air Force Base, Waco, Texas in July, 1954; he then completed training and commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in November 1954. In January 1955 Norman was assigned to the 581st Air Resupply Squadron
581st Air Resupply and Communications Wing
The 581st Air Resupply and Communications Wing is an inactive United States Air Force wing. Its last duty assignment was at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa.-Units:...
at Kadena Air Force Base, Okinawa, specifically as a navigator on a B-29 crew, though he also flew C-47
C-47 Skytrain
The Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota is a military transport aircraft that was developed from the Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II and remained in front line operations through the 1950s with a few remaining in operation to this day.-Design and...
, C-119
C-119 Flying Boxcar
The Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar was an American military transport aircraft developed from the World War II-era Fairchild C-82 Packet, designed to carry cargo, personnel, litter patients, and mechanized equipment, and to drop cargo and troops by parachute...
, C-118
Douglas DC-6
The Douglas DC-6 is a piston-powered airliner and transport aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company from 1946 to 1958. Originally intended as a military transport near the end of World War II, it was reworked after the war to compete with the Lockheed Constellation in the long-range...
, B-26
B-26 Marauder
The Martin B-26 Marauder was a World War II twin-engine medium bomber built by the Glenn L. Martin Company. First used in the Pacific Theater in early 1942, it was also used in the Mediterranean Theater and in Western Europe....
, C-54
C-54 Skymaster
The Douglas C-54 Skymaster was a four-engined transport aircraft used by the United States Army Air Forces and British forces in World War II and the Korean War. Besides transport of cargo, it also carried presidents, British heads of government, and military staff...
and SA-16's
HU-16 Albatross
The Grumman HU-16 Albatross is a large twin-radial engine amphibious flying boat that was utilized by the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Coast Guard, primarily as a search and rescue and combat search and rescue aircraft...
. He was then reassigned to Brookley Air Force Base
Mobile Downtown Airport
Mobile Downtown Airport is a public use airport located three nautical miles south of the central business district of Mobile, a city in Mobile County, Alabama, United States. It is also known as Brookley Field. The airport is part of the Brookley Complex, an industrial complex which lies on the...
in Mobile, Alabama in July 1956, where he was a navigator on the C-124
C-124 Globemaster II
The Douglas C-124 Globemaster II, nicknamed "Old Shakey", was a heavy-lift cargo aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company in Long Beach, California....
.
Norman was released from active duty in September 1957. He then joined the Tennessee Air National Guard
Tennessee Air National Guard
The Tennessee Air National Guard is the independent air arm of the Tennessee National Guard. Along with the Tennessee Army National Guard, it comprises the National Guard of the U.S...
and remained there for six years.
Politics
In 1960 Norman was elected President of Davidson County Young Democrats. He was elected in August 1962 to the Tennessee House of RepresentativesTennessee House of Representatives
The Tennessee House of Representatives is the lower house of the Tennessee General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Tennessee.-Constitutional requirements:...
, and in 1964 and 1968 won election to the Tennessee Democratic Executive Committee
Tennessee Democratic Party
The Tennessee Democratic Party is the organized coalition of Democrats in Tennessee founded in 1826, tracing its philosophical roots to President Andrew Jackson. Andrew Jackson was born in 1767 in the Carolinas. After fighting in the Revolutionary War he moved to Tennessee in search of opportunity....
, where he served for four years as Secretary. In 1968 he was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
; he served also on the Democratic National Platform Committee
Democratic National Committee
The Democratic National Committee is the principal organization governing the United States Democratic Party on a day to day basis. While it is responsible for overseeing the process of writing a platform every four years, the DNC's central focus is on campaign and political activity in support...
.
Legal career
Norman returned to Vanderbilt in 1957. He entered the Nashville School of LawNashville School of Law
The Nashville School of Law, , is a private, night law school specializing in legal education for non-traditional, part-time, working professionals and others seeking a legal education...
in September 1958, graduating in June 1962, and received his license to practice law in Tennessee. He entered the private practice of law with his father and brother.
In 1990 Norman was elected Judge of Division IV of the Criminal Court for Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee. He was re-elected to the position in 1998 and again in 2006 without opposition.
Judge Norman founded the Davidson County Drug Court, a long-term residential treatment program for non-violent felony offenders, over which he presides alongside his responsibilities as a criminal court judge. The program is the only court-operated residential drug court in the United States.
As of January 2009, Norman serves on the Governor's Criminal Justice Committee and the Safe & Drug Free Schools and Communities Advisory Committee for the United States Department of Education
United States Department of Education
The United States Department of Education, also referred to as ED or the ED for Education Department, is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government...
. He is chairman of the board for the Nashville Drug Court Support Foundation. He has written many articles on drug courts and his drug court has been cited in many National publications.