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What to know about Chris Heagerty, judge on Joey Aguilar NCAA case
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- What to know about Chris Heagerty, judge on Joey Aguilar NCAA case
The lawsuit filed by Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar against the NCAA in Knox County Chancery Court will be heard by Knox County Chancellor Chris Heagerty, a two-time University of Tennessee at Knoxville graduate.
Aguilar is seeking to extend his eligibility and play for the Vols in the 2026 college football season. A lot is riding on the effort: Aguilar was the starter last season and the football team would welcome him back in that role. He would make millions through an NIL deal if he returns.
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Heagerty, a well-respected chancellor since 2021, received his bachelor's and law degrees from UT. He began teaching as an adjunct professor at the school's Winston College of Law in the fall.
All three Knox County chancellors have degrees from UT. Cases are assigned to chancellors – they do not select what cases they will hear.
Tennessee judges who serve in chancery courts are called chancellors. They largely handle items related to contract and property boundary disputes, divorces, adoptions and trusts.
Heagerty is a Republican. He was appointed to Chancery Court by Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee following the retirement of Michael Moyers in 2021. Heagerty ran unopposed for the position in 2022 and was elected to an eight-year term.
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Before he was selected as chancellor, Heagerty practiced law in Knoxville. He was a longtime Knox County Election Commissioner and served as the commission's chairman for nearly 10 years. He also has been an adjunct professor at Lincoln Memorial University's Duncan School of Law since 2023.
In an application for the Governor's Council for Judicial Appointments, filled out in December, Heagerty described his impartiality when answering a question about whether he would uphold the law even if he disagreed with the law at issue.
"It is the responsibility of the judiciary to uphold and enforce the law," he wrote. "This is true regardless of any personal thoughts or convictions that the individual judge may have regarding the rule, statute or regulation in question."
A longtime friend of U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Knoxville, Heagerty listed Burchett as the first name on a page of references.
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Is Chris Heagerty a donor to Tennessee?
In January a Tuscaloosa Circuit Court in Alabama granted 23-year-old NBA G League player Charles Bediako a temporary restraining order allowing him to return to college basketball. He is now on the University of Alabama roster.
Shortly after the decision, it was reported the judge in the case, James H. Roberts Jr., was a major donor to the Crimson Tide Foundation, with annual giving between $100,000 to $249,999. Roberts has since recused himself from the case.
Knox News could not determine whether Heagerty is a donor to the university or a season-ticket holder for any Tennessee sports. Donations to state universities are not a public record in Tennessee after a significant and successful effort by UT to change state law to shield donors. An athletics department spokesman said UT does not disclose any information about season-ticket holders, including their identities.
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Chris Heagerty's time at the University of Tennessee
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Heagerty majored in history. He attended from 1982-88.
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Heagerty was part of the Sigma Chi fraternity as an undergrad.
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After spending his first year of law school at the University of Memphis (what was then Memphis State University), he transferred to UT. He graduated in 1994.
Tyler Whetstone is an investigative reporter focused on accountability journalism. Email: tyler.whetstone@knoxnews.com ; X: @ tyler_whetstone ; Signal: twhetstone141924.39
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Chris Heagerty, judge assigned to Joey Aguilar NCAA case
