News
May 3, 2010
Nashville, Tenn. – John P. Colton Jr., criminal court judge for the 30th Judicial District, announced his retirement effective April 30, 2010. Colton initially planned to retire June 30, but altered his plans to better accommodate deadlines for the August 5 election.Because early voting and…
May 5, 2010
Nashville, Tenn. – In response to the devastating flooding throughout Tennessee, Chief Justice Janice M. Holder is urging Tennessee attorneys to assist with the relief efforts by providing pro bono legal services.Although the full damage from this catastrophic event is still unknown, thousands of…
May 14, 2010
Nashville, Tenn. – Chief Justice Janice Holder today issued a written report on the State of the Tennessee Judiciary to members of the General Assembly. The nine-page report, which is available at www.tncourts.gov, provides legislators and the general public with an overview of the initiatives,…
May 26, 2010
Nashville, Tenn. – The Court of the Judiciary, the body charged with overseeing the ethical conduct of judges, named Timothy R. Discenza as its new chief disciplinary counsel. Discenza, of Memphis, has served as federal prosecutor for the Department of Justice for the past 33 years.Discenza will…
June 22, 2010
The Tennessee Supreme Court today unveiled plans to host a statewide pro bono summit as a part of the Court's effort to address access to justice in Tennessee. The pro bono summit was just one of several action items outlined by the Court, as it announced the adoption of four over-arching goals to…
August 9, 2010
Justice Cornelia A. Clark will become the second woman in the state’s history to serve as chief justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court when she is sworn into office at 10 a.m. on Sept. 1 at the historic courthouse in Franklin, Tenn.“I am honored and humbled to be chosen by my colleagues on the…
August 25, 2010
Circuit Court Judge Don Ash of the 16th Judicial District has been elected to a fourth term as presiding judge of the Tennessee Court of the Judiciary. The 16-member panel receives complaints against judges and imposes sanctions for violations of the Code of Judicial Conduct.Tennessee Supreme Court…
September 8, 2010
The Tennessee Supreme Court has established a program allowing retired attorneys to provide pro bono legal services as yet another step in the Court’s effort to improve access to justice in the state. With the adoption of Supreme Court Rule 50A, retired attorneys will have the ability to work with…
September 21, 2010
The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) has named Carla Arevalo as its Supreme Court Rule 13 Compliance Officer. In this newly created position, Arevalo’s chief function will be to educate, interpret and enforce Supreme Court Rule 13, which governs the appointment and compensation of…
September 22, 2010
The Tennessee Supreme Court has upheld the three death sentences of David Lynn Jordan for the first degree murders of his estranged wife, Donna Renee Jordan, Jerry Hopper and David Gordon at a Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) facility in Jackson, Tenn.On January 11, 2005, Jordan shot…
September 23, 2010
The Tennessee Supreme Court has upheld the death sentence of Joel Richard Schmeiderer for the first degree premeditated murder of Tom Harris, a fellow inmate at the South Central Correctional Center in Clifton, Tenn.On July 11, 2001, Schmeiderer used a sock to strangle Harris to death in the victim…
September 29, 2010
The Tennessee Supreme Court today filed an order adopting revisions to its Rules of Professional Conduct, which govern the ethical behavior of attorneys. The changes to the Rules of Professional Conduct (RPCs), which fall under Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 8, provide additional clarity for…
September 30, 2010
The Tennessee Supreme Court has upheld the death sentence of John Patrick Henretta for the rape, murder, robbery and kidnapping of Frances Rose Crabtree, a 32-year-old Bradley County thrift store employee.Henretta and his accomplice, Michael Goodhart, were on the run for crimes committed in…
October 5, 2010
The Tennessee Supreme Court has upheld the death sentence of H.R. Hester for the first degree murder of Charles Haney.At the time of the crime, Mr. Hester was living with Mr. Haney and Hester’s ex-wife, Dora Mae Hester, who was the live-in caretaker for the elderly Mr. Haney. On December 14, 1999,…
October 6, 2010
More than 200 high school students from Hickman, Lewis, Perry and Williamson counties will hear oral arguments in two Tennessee Supreme Court cases on Thursday, October 7, as part of a program designed to educate young Tennesseans about the judicial branch of government.Students and their teachers…
November 1, 2010
The Tennessee Supreme Court today appointed Lee Ramsey as Reporter for the Court’s Advisory Commission on the Rules of Practice and Procedure. Ramsey replaces Don Paine, who retired from the position last year after 35 years of service to the Commission. Paine continues to serve the Commission as…
November 1, 2010
David Shearon to Leave CLE Comission
Commission Seeks New Executive DirectorNashville, Tenn. - David Shearon, executive director of the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education (CLE) and Specialization, has announced he is stepping down from the position effective December 31, 2010.…
November 6, 2010
Nashville, Tenn. – The Tennessee Supreme Court today entered an order postponing the execution of Stephen Michael West from November 9 to November 30.The Court acted on a motion to appeal from the Davidson County Chancery Court, where West filed a lawsuit challenging Tennessee’s three-drug legal…
November 16, 2010
Morristown, Tenn. – Courthouses across Tennessee are typically quiet on Saturdays. But on Saturday, Nov. 20 at 9 a.m., the Hamblen County Courthouse in Morristown will be bustling with activity as Chancellor Thomas “Skip” Frierson will finalize four adoptions at a special ceremony in honor of…
November 24, 2010
Nashville, Tenn. – The Tennessee Supreme Court today denied motions filed by Stephen Michael West and Billy Ray Irick to postpone their scheduled executions after a trial court ruled the state’s lethal injection procedure to be unconstitutional.West is scheduled for execution on Nov. 30. Irick’s…