Justin P. Wilson

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Justin Wilson

| office = 34th Comptroller of the Treasury of Tennessee

| governor = Phil Bredesen
Bill Haslam
Bill Lee

| term_start = January 15, 2009

| term_end = January 13, 2021

| predecessor = John Morgan

| successor = Jason Mumpower

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1945|1|4}}

| birth_place = Oakland, California, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Republican

| spouse = Barbara Engelhardt

| children = 4

| education = Stanford University (BA)
Vanderbilt University (JD)
New York University (LLM)
Warren National University
(MA)

| image =

}}

Justin Potter Wilson (born January 4, 1945) is an American lawyer and Republican politician who was the 34th Comptroller of the Treasury of Tennessee. He has been Tennessee deputy governor, a federal judicial nominee to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, and an adjunct professor at Vanderbilt University Law School.

Early life and education

Born in Oakland, California, in 1945, Wilson earned a bachelor's degree from Stanford University in 1967, a J.D. degree from Vanderbilt University Law School in 1970, an L.L.M. in taxation from New York University in 1974, and a master's degree in criminal justice from the unaccredited Kennedy-Western University in 1995.[http://www.tn.gov/sos/bluebook/09-10/05%20Comptroller.pdf Comptroller of the Treasury] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002034940/http://www.tn.gov/sos/bluebook/09-10/05%20Comptroller.pdf |date=2011-10-02 }}, Tennessee Blue Book 2009-2010, page 107.[http://www.newschannel5.com/story/9628560/money-cop-candidate-silent-about-contracts-scandal 'Money Cop' Candidate Silent About Contracts Scandal] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120525061956/http://www.newschannel5.com/story/9628560/money-cop-candidate-silent-about-contracts-scandal |date=2012-05-25 }}, NewsChannel5.com, January 6, 2009

Career

= Private practice of law =

Wilson is a member of the bar in the states of Tennessee and New York. He practiced law with the Nashville law firm of Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, LLP from 1976 until 1996. He rejoined the firm in 2003 and resigned in 2009 when he became state comptroller.[http://www.wallerlaw.com/articles/2003/02/03/former-tennessee-deputy-governor-joins-one-of-southeasts-leading-law-firms-justin-wilson-to-focus-on-regulatory-practice.6248 Former Tennessee Deputy Governor Joins One of Southeast's Leading Law Firms: Justin Wilson to Focus on Regulatory Practice] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405061814/http://www.wallerlaw.com/articles/2003/02/03/former-tennessee-deputy-governor-joins-one-of-southeasts-leading-law-firms-justin-wilson-to-focus-on-regulatory-practice.6248 |date=2012-04-05 }}, February 2, 2003

= Government service =

From 1996 until 2003, Wilson was deputy governor to Tennessee Governor Don Sundquist, in which position he was the governor's chief policy advisor. He also served as a commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.[http://law.vanderbilt.edu/faculty/faculty-detail/index.aspx?faculty_id=277 Justin P. Wilson, Adjunct Professor of Law, Comptroller, State of Tennessee], Vanderbilt University Law School website, accessed October 28, 2011

As a top policy advisor to Governor Sundquist, Wilson focused on environmental issues. He was honored as the state's Conservationist of the

Year in 1997. The Justin P. Wilson Cumberland Trail State Park was renamed in his honor in 2002 in recognition of his environmental work, which included cleanup of pollution in the Pigeon RiverPaper Mill Pollution, All Things Considered, NPR, Feb 3, 1997 and negotiating land donations from the Tennessee Valley Authority.[http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_26818.asp Cumberland Trail Renamed for Sundquist Aide Justin Wilson] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030326200246/http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_26818.asp |date=2003-03-26 }}, Chattanoogan, Sep 23, 2002 He was named the Tennessee Conservation League's "Conservationist of the Year" in 1997. He battled United States Environmental Protection Agency smog rules [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F00E0DF1439F936A25750C0A96E958260 Tennessee Governor Talks of Revolt on E.P.A. Smog Rules], by Robyn Meredith, New York Times, Mar 15, 1998 and toxic waste incineration at Oak Ridge National Laboratory,[http://www.tennessean.com/special/oakridge/part2/stories/governorcuts.shtml Governor cuts flow to toxic incinerator], by Laura Frank, The Tennessean, Mar 4, 1998 and negotiated water allocation of the Tennessee River with the TVA.Tennessee Officials Request Water Budget from TVA for Tennessee River, by Dave Flessner, Chattanooga Times/Free Press, Feb 20, 2002

On January 15, 2009, Wilson was elected Tennessee state comptroller by the Tennessee General Assembly.Blayne Clements, [http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2009/01/17/new-state-constitutional-officers-elected/ New state constitutional officers elected], Clarksville Online, January 17, 2009 He was awarded the honorific title of Comptroller Emeritus after retiring on January 13, 2021.

= Judicial nomination=

On March 20, 1992, President George H. W. Bush nominated Wilson to a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit that became vacant after Judge Robert B. Krupansky assumed senior status. Wilson received a rating of "qualified" from the American Bar Association.[http://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/migrated/scfedjud/ratings/ratings102.authcheckdam.pdf Ratings of Judicial Nominees, 102nd Congress], American Bar Association, accessed October 28, 2011 Wilson's nomination languished in the Democrat-controlled U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, which never held a hearing. Wilson's nomination expired with the end of Bush's presidency. Several years later, Judge Karen Nelson Moore was confirmed to the seat to which Wilson had been nominated.

=Professional activities=

Wilson is or was a member of the Financial Advisory Board of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and chairman of the Nashville Electric Board, Davidson County Metropolitan Health Board, Community Health Agency of Nashville and Davidson County, and the Committee of Visitors of the Blair School of Music of Vanderbilt University. He also has served as foreman of the Davidson County Grand Jury and as a member of the executive committee of Meharry Medical College.

Personal life

Wilson is married to Barbara Engelhardt. They have two sons, Walter and Wesley. Wilson also has two sons, Justin Potter Wilson, Jr and Whitney Danner Wilson, from a previous first marriage to Donna Danner Wilson.