News
February 5, 2021
Today, the Tennessee Supreme Court, based on legal errors and insufficient evidence, unanimously reversed a Shelby County Chancery Court’s decision to terminate a father’s parental rights and dismissed the petition for termination filed by the mother and stepfather.In Tennessee, a court may…
February 2, 2021
The Board of Judicial Conduct has entered into a deferred discipline agreement with Stewart County Judicial Commissioner Joyce Tomlinson. Commissioner Tomlinson will resign her position before February 14, 2021. Read…
January 26, 2021
David William Haines, Jr., who served as general counsel for the Administrative Office of the Courts from 2007 to 2015, passed away on January 16, 2021. The general counsel position at the AOC is a division director who provides trusted legal counsel related to court administration, rules, and…
January 26, 2021
In an opinion released today, the Tennessee Supreme Court ruled that Tennessee’s Health Care Liability Act (“HCLA”) requires defendants to provide plaintiffs with written notice when plaintiffs sue the wrong defendant but does not provide a penalty or a remedy when defendants fail to comply with…
January 25, 2021
Earlier this month, longtime Clarksville attorney Sharon Massey Grimes was appointed to the Montgomery County General Sessions and Juvenile Court bench to fill the unexpired term of her late husband Judge Ray Grimes, who passed away in November after serving as a judge for 22 years.The Montgomery…
January 22, 2021
In a case it called a “cautionary tale,” the Tennessee Supreme Court held for the first time today that lawyers who make unethical statements may receive harsher discipline if they choose to post the statements publicly on social media. In this case, a Nashville attorney posted comments on Facebook…
January 19, 2021
The Appellate Court Clerk's office is experiencing intermittent issues with its phone system in Nashville. If you are unable to reach the Clerk's office in Nashville by phone, you can reach the office by email at appellatecourtclerk@tncourts.gov…
January 19, 2021
While Tennessee courts have remained open and operational over the entire course of the COVID-19 pandemic, their working methods have in many instances changed to account for greater health and safety precautions.A panel of three judges, one from each of the state’s grand divisions, recently…
January 15, 2021
The Tennessee Supreme Court today issued an Order extending the suspension of most in-person hearings to March 31, 2021. Court clerk offices remain accessible, the Order provides a list of exceptions for emergency…
January 14, 2021
The Tennessee Supreme Court today upheld one conviction of a defendant for money laundering charges stemming from a drug deal. However, the Court reversed a second conviction, holding that acceptance of payment for fronted drugs, standing alone, was not sufficient to uphold that conviction.A…
January 12, 2021
The Tennessee Judiciary mourns the loss of Ellen Abbott, who served as the Director of the Office of Criminal Justice Services at the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. Ms. Abbott played a vital role in the development and success of the state's recovery courts,…
January 12, 2021
Today, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced appointments to judicial positions across the state.“I am proud to announce the appointment of these highly qualified individuals, and I value the experience they will bring to their respective judicial districts,” said Governor Lee. “I’m confident they…
January 12, 2021
Former Grainger County General Sessions and Juvenile Court Judge Joseph Wayne Wolfenbarger died on Jan. 7 at his home in Bean Station at the age of 77. Judge Wolfenbarger served the people of Grainger County for 32 years from the bench. He joined the Tennessee bar in 1966, after having…
January 7, 2021
The Tennessee Supreme Court today dismissed the wrongful termination lawsuit of a Williamson County tenured teacher. The Court held that the teacher cannot claim wrongful discharge under Tennessee’s Teacher Tenure Act because she quit her job. The Court also dismissed the teacher’s…
January 5, 2021
The Tennessee Supreme Court has two cases set for its January 6, 2020 docket. The cases will be heard using livestream video conferencing. Cases will be livestreamed to the TNCourts YouTube page at: https://www.youtube.com/user/TNCourts/featured. The first case is set to begin at 9 a.m. CST, and…
January 4, 2021
Memphis Municipal Court Judge Teresa Jones died on January 2 after a battle with cancer. She was 61.Judge Jones began serving in Division One of Memphis Municipal Court on January 15, 2019, after having been appointed by Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland. She won election to that seat in October 2019.“…
January 4, 2021
Former Rhea County General Sessions and Juvenile Court Judge James W. McKenzie passed away January 2. He was 76.Judge McKenzie had been in private legal practice in his hometown of Dayton for 26 years when he was elected to the Rhea County bench in 1998. He served there until his retirement in 2014…
January 4, 2021
The Tennessee Supreme Court has determined that, under the language of the Tennessee Products Liability Act, a manufacturer is not liable for injuries resulting from products it did not make or sell.This products liability action was brought by Mr. Donald Coffman and Mrs. Carolyn Coffman as a…
December 29, 2020
Phone service returned Tuesday to most court-related offices in Nashville after the recent explosion, but the Nashville Supreme Court Building remains closed and without phone service. Below is an update as of Tuesday evening:The Nashville Supreme Court Building, including the Appellate Clerk…
December 29, 2020
The Tennessee Supreme Court recently appointed a new member to the state’s Commission on Continuing Legal Education and Specialization.Kyonzté Hughes-Toombs will take her seat on the Commission effective January 1, 2021. She replaces outgoing Commission Chair John Alexander, whose second three-year…