News
July 3, 2019
The Tennessee Judicial Conference recently announced the new members of its Executive Committee for the coming year.Taking over as president of the TJC is 7th Judicial District Circuit Court Judge Donald R. Elledge. Judge Elledge has been on the bench since 2005, when he was first appointed to his…
July 2, 2019
The Tennessee Supreme Court today upheld a decision of the Chancery Court of Knox County that disbarred Knoxville attorney Loring Edwin Justice.The disbarment stems from Mr. Justice’s conduct in a federal personal injury lawsuit in which he represented the plaintiff. The federal district court…
June 26, 2019
Governor Bill Lee was recently welcomed to the 66th Tennessee Judicial Conference where he spoke about an issue very important to him: criminal justice reform. At the conference, Governor Lee explored why he feels reform is so crucial and emphasized that state judges have a huge role to play in…
June 25, 2019
The Trial Vacancy Commission met today, Tuesday, June 25, 2019, to consider five candidates for the 24th Judicial District Chancery Court judge vacancy, which covers Benton, Carroll, Decatur, Hardin, and Henry counties.This vacancy was created by the appointment and confirmation of Judge Carma…
June 21, 2019
Fourth Judicial District Circuit Court Judge Duane Slone, whose groundbreaking work in the courtroom has given new hope to many battling addiction issues, was recently awarded the National Center for State Courts Distinguished Service Award. NCSC President Mary McQueen presented Judge Slone with…
June 19, 2019
The Tennessee Supreme Court today, in a divided opinion, dismissed a negligence lawsuit filed by the estate of a woman who committed suicide.In 2011, the defendant, Dr. Jerry Scott Wilson, a psychiatrist, and the decedent, Christina Marie Cotten, a registered nurse who worked with him, embarked on…
June 18, 2019
The Nashville Business Journal recognized Former Court of Appeals Judge Lew Conner with its Best of the Bar Lifetime Achievement award. Former Judge Conner served on the Court of Appeals from 1980-1984 and is a partner at Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis LLP.Conner has practiced law for more than…
June 18, 2019
On June 30, 2019 the current Board of Judicial Conduct will sunset and a new board will take its place on July 1, 2019, per Tennessee Public Chapter 496, passed by the Legislature and signed by Governor Bill Lee. Under the new law, four of the Tennessee judicial conferences appointed one or two…
June 11, 2019
Former Court of Criminal Appeals Judge F. Lloyd Tatum succumbed to cancer at his home in Henderson on Wednesday, June 5, 2019. He was 93 years old. Judge Tatum was appointed to the Criminal Court of Appeals in 1976 by Governor Ray Blanton. He served on that court until 1986 and later became a…
June 7, 2019
In 1990, Judge Martha Craig Daughtrey became the first woman ever appointed to the Tennessee Supreme Court. Her appointment signaled a coming sea of change. In the ensuing two decades, women would go from being an anomaly on the Court to a persistent majority. Serving as witnesses to this…
June 6, 2019
The Advisory Task Force on Composition of Judicial Districts will hold a public hearing in Murfreesboro on Wednesday, June 12 to receive comments from those interested in sharing their thoughts on judicial districts in Tennessee. The public hearing will be held at 2:30 p.m. CDT at the…
May 29, 2019
Lipscomb University will host the Tennessee Supreme Court this week as part of the American Legion Auxiliary’s Volunteer Girls State program, which provides Tennessee’s high school female leaders the opportunity to experience and learn about civic engagement. On Thursday morning, the…
May 29, 2019
The Tennessee Supreme Court today issued two opinions that presented the same legal question: whether a Circuit Court retains jurisdiction (authority) to decide post-divorce petitions seeking modifications of permanent parenting plans if the petitions include allegations that satisfy the statutory…
May 29, 2019
The Trial Court Vacancy Commission will consider five applicants when it meets on Tuesday, June 25 to select nominees for the chancery court judge vacancy in the 24th judicial district, which covers Benton, Carroll, Decatur, Hardin, and Henry counties. This vacancy was created by the appointment…
May 28, 2019
Former Chancellor Tom E. Gray, age 77, of Hendersonville, passed away peacefully, on Sunday, May 26, 2019. He served as a chancellor in the 18th Judicial District, representing Sumner County, for more than 25 years and served on the bench for more than 32 years.Chancellor Gray was born to the late…
Tennessee Supreme Court Rejects Challenge to a Search Warrant in Sexual Exploitation of a Minor Case
May 22, 2019
In an opinion released today, the Tennessee Supreme Court affirmed the validity of a search warrant used to gather evidence in a case involving charges of sexual exploitation of a minor. The defendant, Anthony Jerome Miller, was indicted on one count of sexual exploitation of a minor after a…
May 21, 2019
The Trial Vacancy Commission met today, Tuesday, May 21, 2019, to consider four candidates for the 13th Judicial District Criminal Court vacancy which covers Clay, Cumberland, DeKalb, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, and White Counties.This vacancy was created by the upcoming retirement of the Honorable…
May 20, 2019
This year marks the nineteenth year in a row that the Tennessee Supreme Court will hold oral arguments before an accomplished group of Tennessee’s high school students at American Legion Boys State. The Court session is just one element of weeklong programs in which 600 students participate…
May 16, 2019
The Advisory Task Force on Composition of Judicial Districts will hold a public hearing in Harriman on Monday, May 20 to receive comments from those interested in sharing their thoughts on judicial districts in Tennessee. The public hearing will be held at 1 p.m. at Roane State Community…
May 16, 2019
The Honorable James B. “Buddy” Scott, Jr., age 83, of Oak Ridge passed away on Thursday, May 9, 2019. Judge Scott became the Anderson County Circuit and Criminal Court Judge in 1978 and was reelected every election thereafter until retirement in 2005. Prior to becoming Judge, he served as the…