John Rodgers points out that it just so happens that Senator Rosalind Kurita's Democratic primary opponent is a lawyer who somes takes DUI cases. Kurita, yesterday, attached an amendment to a bill which hampers the ways in which such lawyers can advertise:

In August, Democrats may have their chance for revenge as Kurita will face primary opposition from Tim Barnes, a Clarksville attorney.

Part of Barnes’ area of legal practice includes DUI defense, although he is not a certified specialist.

Barnes advertises that he does DUI defense work, as well as several other areas, in the Yellow Pages, in a local newspaper and on radio stations.

While Barnes says his ads don’t promote what Kurita’s amendment bans — and therefore may not be affected — Barnes said Kurita’s move had “three or four constitutional problems.”

“Even a fundamental understanding of the Constitution would inform somebody that that’s an amendment that you can’t have — that’s a First Amendment right,” Barnes said.

Barnes said the only DUI attorney he could recall who noted a DUI specialty was the late “DUI Mike” Fox.

Kurita said Barnes’ advertising activities didn’t have “any bearing” on her amendment.

“I certainly would not want that to color my intensity on this issue,” Kurita said of cracking down on drunken drivers. “I can’t help extraneous activities.”

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Tom Humphrey
CP Editorial