News
May 5, 2011
The Court of the Judiciary issued a public reprimand for Judge Jim T. Hamilton on May 4, 2011 for signing "ex-parte orders of dismissal and ex-parte orders expunging convictions."…
May 4, 2011
Nashville, Tenn. - The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) has introduced new efforts to ensure the appropriate and efficient use of the indigent defense fund.Both the federal and state constitutions require courts to appoint counsel for criminal defendants who cannot afford an attorney. In…
May 4, 2011
Retired Judge James K. Clayton passed away yesterday at age 72. Judge Clayton served on the bench for 32 years, first as a General Sessions and Juvenile Court judge for Rutherford County, then as a Circuit Court Judge for the 16th Judicial District.A visitation will be held on Saturday, May 7 from…
May 3, 2011
Nashville, Tenn. – Ten Middle Tennessee attorneys have applied to fill the judicial vacancy on the Court of Criminal Appeals created by the impending retirement of Judge David H. Welles.The Judicial Nominating Commission will hold a public meeting on Monday, June 6, to interview the following…
May 3, 2011
Spring Hill Municipal Court Judge Blair Scoville Morgan has recently launched an evaluation initiative to allow the public to provide anonymous feedback about their experience with the Municipal Court. Morgan launched the initiative in February and wrote about her efforts in The Informer…
May 2, 2011
Nashville, Tenn. – The Administrative Office of the Courts is now accepting applications for five seats on the Judicial Nominating Commission, the body that reviews and recommends applicants for vacancies on the appellate and state trial courts for the governor’s consideration.The terms…
April 26, 2011
The Judicial Nominating Commission met in Knoxville today to interview the eight applicants for the judicial vacancy in the 6th Judicial District created by the retirement of Judge Richard Baumgartner.
After holding a public hearing and an interview for each applicant, the Judicial Nominating…
April 21, 2011
Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Thomas Woodall was named Volunteer of the Year by the Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program (TLAP) at an event on April 2.Woodall received the award for his efforts in creating TLAP’s Judicial Assistance Group (JAG), which offers intervention…
April 12, 2011
General Sessions Judge Christy Little of Madison County was named a 2011 Sterling Award winner by The Jackson Sun. The award recognizes the 20 most influencial women in women in West Tennessee.…
April 18, 2011
Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Sharon G. Lee joined a group of attorneys and law students Saturday to talk to Knoxville area female minority students about pursuing legal careers. The National Association of Women Judges (NAWJ) partnered with the YWCA of Knoxville to host this event.Twenty…
April 15, 2011
Judge Allen Wilson Wallace, Sr., age 74 of New Johnsonville, passed away April 15, 2011.The funeral service will be 2 p.m., Wednesday at Anglin Funeral Home with Rev. Richard Hughes officiating. Burial in Pleasant Hill Cemetery. Family and Friends will serve as Pallbearers.Visitation will be from 1…
April 12, 2011
Nashville, Tenn. – The Judicial Nominating Commission is now accepting applications for the vacancy on the Court of Criminal Appeals created by the impending retirement of Judge David H. Welles.Interested applicants must be licensed attorneys who are at least 30 years of age, a resident of the…
April 12, 2011
Nashville, Tenn. – Court of Criminal Appeals Judge David H. Welles announced his retirement last week after serving 17 years on the intermediate appellate court. His retirement will take effect on June 30.Much of Welles’ career has been dedicated to public service – working in each of the three…
April 7, 2011
The Judicial Ethics Committee released an ethics opinion recently regarding whether a judge who is part of a drug court team can preside over a revocation/sentencing hearing of a defendant in the drug court program.Click here to read the opinion.
April 11, 2011
The Tennessee Supreme Court today ruled that expert testimony may be considered when determining whether a person facing the death penalty is intellectually disabled. Under Tennessee law, persons with intellectual disability (formerly referred to as “mental retardation”) cannot be executed.In the…
April 4, 2011
Eight Knoxville attorneys have applied to fill the judicial vacancy in the 6th Judicial District Criminal Court created by the retirement of Judge Richard Baumgartner.The Judicial Nominating Commission will hold a public meeting on Tuesday, April 26, to interview the following candidates:Charles…
April 5, 2011
Juvenile Courts across Tennessee worked to raise awareness for child abuse prevention efforts by participating in Prevent Child Abuse Tennessee’s Wear Blue Day on April 1, 2011 to kick-off Child Abuse Prevention Month.A number of counties submitted photos of court staff wearing blue. You may view…
March 16, 2011
An official portrait of Chancellor Howell Peoples was unveiled at a reception on Friday at the Hamilton County Courthouse. Chancellor Peoples retired in March 2010 after 32 years of service on the bench.
March 11, 2011
Nashville, Tenn. - The Tennessee Supreme Court filed an order today soliciting public comments to proposed changes to Code of Judicial Conduct, the ethics rules for Tennessee judges.The Tennessee Bar Association (TBA) filed a petition on February 25, 2011, asking the Court to adopt an amended Code…
March 14, 2011
The Judicial Nominating Commission is now accepting applications for the vacancy in the 6th Judicial District Criminal Court created by the retirement of Judge Richard Baumgartner.Interested applicants must be attorneys who are at least 30 years of age, a resident of the state for five years and a…