News
December 21, 2011
From the Governor's Office:NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today announced his appointment of Judge Roger Page to the Court of Criminal Appeals, Western Section.Page currently serves Chester, Henderson and Madison counties as a…
December 20, 2011
Statement from the Administrative Office of the Courts:“As of this morning, the Administrative Office of the Courts has received more than 16,000 email petitions requesting the Supreme Court to stop the retrials of the four defendants charged with the murders of Channon Christian and Christopher…
December 19, 2011
Shelby County Criminal Court Judge John T. Fowlkes was nominated by President Barack Obama Friday to the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee.Fowlkes has served as criminal court judge in Shelby County since…
December 19, 2011
Nashville, Tenn. – The Tennessee Supreme Court has affirmed the convictions of Leonard Edward Smith for the 1985 murders of two Sullivan County grocery store workers, John Pierce and Novella Webb. The Court also affirmed the ruling of the Court of Criminal Appeals vacating Smith’s death sentence…
December 14, 2011
From the Governor's Office:NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today announced his appointment of Deputy District Attorney Derek K. Smith to the Tennessee Circuit Court for the 21st Judicial District. Smith will fill a vacancy created by the appointment of Judge Jeff Bivins to the Tennessee…
December 13, 2011
Retired Shelby County Criminal Court Judge H.T. Lockard died of Monday at the age of 91. Judge Lockard became a criminal court judge in 1975 and served until his retirement in 1994. Prior to taking the bench, Judge Lockard served as an adminstrative assistant to Gov. Buford Ellington from 1967…
December 9, 2011
The Court of the Judiciary has issued a public reprimand to Hamilton County General Sessions Court Judge David Bales in response to two separate complaints that were filed against the judge.…
December 5, 2011
Nashville, Tenn. – The Judicial Nominating Commission met in Nashville today to review the 10 applicants for the judicial vacancy in the 20th Judicial District created by the retirement of Judge Barbara Haynes. After holding a public hearing and interview for each applicant, the Judicial Nominating…
November 30, 2011
The Tennessee Court system today completed a multi-year project to install trial court case management software in court clerks offices across the state.The Tennessee Court Information System, called TnCIS, provides clerks with an automated case management system that reduces paperwork, processes…
November 30, 2011
Nashville, Tenn. – The Tennessee Supreme Court launched a new website this week to provide the public with valuable resources to help navigate the court system. The new site, JusticeForAllTN.com, is intended to assist…
November 14, 2011
Morristown, Tenn. – For the ninth consecutive year, Chancellor Thomas “Skip” Frierson will open the Morristown courthouse doors on a Saturday for a special ceremony to celebrate local adoptions.In honor of National Adoption Day, Frierson…
November 8, 2011
The Tennessee Supreme Court today filed an order setting oral argument regarding the Tennessee Bar Association's (TBA) proposed changes to the Code of Judicial Conduct. The oral argument will take place on Friday, December 2 at 1:00 p.m. at the Supreme Court building in Nashville.On March 11,…
November 1, 2011
More than 100 new attorneys were sworn in by the Tennessee Supreme Court today in Nashville. Today's swearing in ceremony is one of three events held across the state to admit attorneys who passed the bar exam in July. The Court held ceremonies in Knoxville Monday and they will be in Memphis…
October 31, 2011
Nashville, Tenn. – Ten attorneys have applied to fill the Circuit Court vacancy in the 20th Judicial District, which serves Davidson County. The vacancy was created by the impending retirement of Circuit Court Judge Barbara Haynes.The Judicial Nominating Commission will hold a public meeting to…
October 25, 2011
More than 140 mediators attended the 9th Annual Advanced Mediation Techniques Workshop hosted by the Supreme Court Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Commission last Friday at Lipscomb University. An additional 50 mediators participated through a live internet feed of the event. The event…
October 25, 2011
Chief Justice Cornelia A. Clark swore in five new members of the Judicial Nominating Commission prior to their public hearing in Franklin, Tenn., last week.The Judicial Nominating Commission is the body that reviews and recommends applicants for vacancies on the appellate and state trial courts for…
October 24, 2011
Nashville, Tenn. – The Judicial Nominating Commission met in Jackson today to interview the eight applicants for the vacancy on the Court of Criminal Appeals created by the death of Judge J.C. McLin.After holding a public hearing and an interview for each applicant, the Judicial Nominating…
October 20, 2011
Nashville, Tenn. – The Judicial Nominating Commission met in Franklin today to interview the 12 applicants for the Circuit Court vacancy in the 21st Judicial District, which includes Hickman, Lewis, Perry and Williamson counties. The…
October 12, 2011
Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Sharon Lee spoke to four 5th grade classes at Stewarts Creek Elementary School in Smyrna, Tenn., Monday.Justice Lee talked to students about the three branches of government and explained how the judicial system works in Tennessee. She also discussed her role as a…
October 11, 2011
Davidson County judges hosted a luncheon Friday to celebrate volunteer attorneys who have “stepped up to the plate” to provide legal assistance to people in need. More than 200 attorneys attended the event at the Metro Courthouse.At the event, seven attorneys and one law firm was recognized as “…