NASHVILLE - Former Hawkins County Judge James "Jay" Taylor's request for early parole has officially been "declined."
    Taylor had a parole hearing February 6, but Hearing Officer Richard O'Bryan recommended that any parole requests be declined for the remainder of his sentence.  A final decision, however, had to be made by the state's Board of Parole.
    The hearing officer cited the seriousness of the offense and the fact that Taylor, who had been elected Juvenile Court judge in 2006 and appointed General Sessions Court judge in 2011, was in a position of public trust when the crimes were committed.
    Taylor's sentence is scheduled to end December 4, 2014, according to the Tennessee Department of Corrections.