KNOXVILLE, Tenn — Across 40 years and thousands of cases, one man has been a steady, welcomed and respected presence in the Knox County judicial system.

Judge Andrew Jackson VI, "Andy" to friends and colleagues, spent 21 years as a prosecutor in the Knox County District Attorney's General's Office before becoming a General Sessions Court judge in 2006.

Now he's bringing his long legal career to an end. He turns 70 this month. He'll retire at the end of December, and a reception is set for Dec. 18.

The decision, announced Friday, brings both excitement and a bit of trepidation.

"It's a long time being up here, you know, being around the same people — my friends and colleagues. And then suddenly it's going to be poof! I'm not here every day anymore. It's a little concerning, but I'm look

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