Briley's rise through House ranks likely halted by arrest

By ERIK SCHELZIG , WKRN.com
September 11, 2007

NASHVILLE, Tenn.

House Judiciary Chairman Rob Briley's arrest last weekend on charges of drunken driving, evading police and vandalism appears likely to stall the Nashville Democrat's steady rise through the legislative ranks.

House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh, D-Covington, has said he will wait to address Briley's status on the powerful Judiciary Committee until a grand jury returns an indictment. Lawmakers indicted on felony charges are required to step down from their leadership posts.

Naifeh criticized Republicans for calling for Briley's immediate resignation, but acknowledged that Briley is now spending his second stint in rehabilitation for alcohol addiction over the last year.

The powerful Judiciary Committee is not only slated to oversee a proposed overhaul to Tennessee's drunken driving laws next year, but is also responsible for deciding the fate of any other measures related to the state's legal system.

Briley was arrested Saturday after a police chase that reached speeds of 100 mph, according the arrest report. While police approached Briley with guns drawn, he allegedly went back into the car to retrieve a blue plastic cup to drain its contents. An empty whisky bottle and prescription drugs were found in the car.

Briley was later charged with vandalism for kicking and punching the back door and window of a police cruiser.

As a lawmaker, Briley has been known as much for his intelligence as for his powder-keg temper. Naifeh called Briley "one of the most brilliant legislators that I have served with in my 33 years in the Legislature."

But Republicans, and some fellow Democrats, have been critical of Briley for his sometimes strong-armed tactics and legislative maneuvering.

This year Rep. Mike Turner, D-Old Hickory, saw his proposal to fine cable and satellite companies up to $50,000 for airing ads for obscene products like "Girls Gone Wild" videos die in a subcommittee of the Judiciary Committee when no member supported a motion to debate the bill's merits.

"This is probably the worst committee in the Legislature," Turner said after the vote. "I think not letting it be heard is undemocratic and I'm ashamed of what they did up there."

Briley was a key negotiator this year in an effort to pass legislation to limit medical malpractice lawsuits. Senate Republican Leader Mark Norris, of Collierville, often described the negotiations as tenuous and dependent on Briley's mood.

Briley stormed out of an April Senate hearing and angrily told The Associated Press that Norris was being untruthful and that the senator had "choked" one element what he said had been an agreement on the bill. Briley promised to kill the companion version in a subcommittee of the his House committee.

"Norris thinks I'll blink," Briley said at the time. "But I'll pull the trigger."

A rival version of the bill ultimately passed through the House committee, but died on the House floor.

Naifeh earlier this week alluded to "pressures" that Briley has been under, but declined to elaborate.

According to court records, Briley and his wife separated in December 2005. Pier Briley sued for divorce later the same month, citing irreconcilable differences and "inappropriate marital conduct."

The couple suspended the divorce proceedings in February 2006 for an attempt to reconcile the marriage. But by January 2007, Pier Briley filed to set aside the reconciliation attempt, and in March filed an amended complaint against her husband.

Since the 2005 divorce complaint, "Mr. Briley has been guilty of additional inappropriate marital conduct," according to Pier Briley's amended complaint this year.

The court records do not specify the alleged inappropriate conduct. The Brileys have two children, ages 6 and 7.

His grandfather, Beverly, was the first mayor of the consolidated metropolitan government of Nashville and Davidson County. His brother, David Briley, is a councilman-at-large on the Metro Council who ran unsuccessfully this year for mayor.