News
January 15, 2020
The Tennessee Supreme Court set two execution dates today. The Court set an execution date of June 4, 2020 for Oscar Franklin Smith, convicted of the 1989 murders of Judith Lynn Smith (age 35), Chad Burnett (age 16), and Jason Burnett (age 13) in Nashville. View the Order…
January 15, 2020
The Tennessee Supreme Court announced Larry Bridgesmith has been selected as chair of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission, and J. Marcus Rudolph and Lori Thomas Reidwill join the Commission. The appointments were effective January 9, 2020.“I am excited to assume this role with…
January 13, 2020
Brandon L. Bowers has been appointed Chief Technology Officer of the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts. Bowers has previously served as the Deputy Director, Data Center Services at the Strategic Technology Solutions for the State of Tennessee and Director of Production Support Services…
January 9, 2020
Livestreaming of the investiture of new Sixth Judicial District Criminal Court Judge Kyle A. Hixson will be available at the link below at 3 p.m. EST/ 2 p.m. CST on January 9, 2020. The link will go live 15 minutes before the start of the event. The Sixth Judicial District covers Knox County.…
January 8, 2020
The Trial Court Vacancy Commission met today, Wednesday, January 8, 2020, to consider six candidates for the 15th Judicial District Circuit Court vacancy, which covers Jackson, Macon, Smith, Trousdale, and Wilson counties. This vacancy was created by the retirement of the Honorable John D. Wootten…
January 8, 2020
The Trial Court Vacancy Commission began accepting applications for the Circuit Court Judge in the 16th Judicial District, which covers Rutherford and Cannon counties, on December 18, 2019. After the January 7, 2020 deadline, two candidates had applied, leaving the Commission unable to provide the…
January 6, 2020
After more than 25 years of service, Tennessee’s longest serving State Appellate Judge, Charles D. Susano Jr., has announced he will retire from the bench effective April 30, 2020. In a letter to Governor Bill Lee, Judge Susano said “It has been the highest honor of my life to have served the…
January 3, 2020
Tennessee’s Rule 31 mediators play an essential role in modernizing the state’s justice system, helping to reduce costs and delays related to the resolution of legal disputes. But, until recently, the systems used to track the mediators and their work were anything but modern and efficient.The…
December 26, 2019
Retired 3rd Judicial District Circuit Court Judge John K. Wilson died Friday morning, Dec. 20 at the age of 75. He served in the United States Air Force.Judge Wilson was an assistant District Attorney under Heiskell Winstead for eight years. In 1979, Governor Lamar Alexander appointed Judge Wilson…
December 23, 2019
The Tennessee Supreme Court ruled today that a person who posted bond for a defendant, known as a surety, remains obligated even if the original charge was driving under the influence second offense and the subsequent indictment was for driving under the influence fourth offense.On October 4, 2015…
December 20, 2019
In an opinion released today, the Tennessee Supreme Court reinstated the conviction for presenting a false or fraudulent insurance claim of the defendant, Reuben Eugene Mitchell.In 2011, the defendant applied to Allstate Property and Casualty Insurance Company for a homeowner’s insurance policy.…
December 19, 2019
The Tennessee judiciary applauded the release of the state’s first comprehensive criminal justice reform package today. Governor Bill Lee’s Criminal Justice Investment Task Force released the comprehensive package of data-driven policy recommendations for upcoming legislative sessions that…
December 19, 2019
At this year's annual holiday luncheon of the Appellate Court's Eastern Division, Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Sharon G. Lee presented awards to the following state employees for their years of service: Carlos Yunsan (5 years), Cindy Padilla (20 years), Vanessa Johnson (25 years), and Andrea…
December 18, 2019
The Trial Court Vacancy Commission is accepting applications for a Circuit Court Judge in the 16th Judicial District, which covers Rutherford and Cannon Counties. This vacancy was created by the retirement of the Honorable Royce Taylor, effective March 3, 2020.Qualified applicants must be licensed…
December 17, 2019
Two Tennessee judges who preside over recovery courts and two state legislators were recently recognized for their work helping people with substance use disorders at the Tennessee Association of Recovery Court Professionals’ 15th Annual Recovery Court Conference in Franklin.
Sumner County General…
December 13, 2019
The Trial Court Vacancy Commission will consider six applicants for the circuit court judge vacancy in the 15th judicial district, which covers Jackson, Macon, Smith, Trousdale, and Wilson counties on January 8, 2020 at 9 a.m. The public hearing will be held at the Wilson County Courthouse located…
December 13, 2019
Jury instructions often play a vital role in every criminal trial. The Tennessee Court Talk podcast recently sat down with three members of the Tennessee Judicial Conference Pattern Jury Instructions Criminal Committee to discuss how the pattern instructions are developed, how changes are…
December 12, 2019
The Tennessee Supreme Court has appointed three new members to serve on the Access to Justice Commission beginning on April 1, 2020. The three new members are Monty Burks, Ph.D., Amber D. Floyd, Esq., and Professor Joy Radice. “The Tennessee Supreme Court is honored these individuals…
December 10, 2019
Today, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee appointed Kyle Hixson to serve as a criminal court judge for the 6th Judicial District to fill the Honorable Bob McGee’s vacancy. The 6th Judicial District Criminal Court covers Knox County."Kyle is a dedicated public servant with an extensive background…
December 5, 2019
The Tennessee Supreme Court ruled today that the fair report privilege does not apply to a nonpublic, one-on-one conversation between a newspaper reporter and a detective of a county sheriff’s department, who also served as the public information officer for the sheriff’s department.The decision…