News
November 9, 2017
In a case involving questions about jury deliberations that continued into the early morning hours, the Tennessee Supreme Court determined that the defense did not adequately object to the late-night session to appeal and that the issue cannot be reviewed under the plain error doctrine. The Court…
November 8, 2017
Lawyers across the Volunteer State donated more than $118 million worth of free pro bono legal services to Tennesseans in 2015, according to an annual report issued by the Tennessee Supreme Court’s Access to Justice Commission. In total, 591,064 hours of service were performed by 8,122 attorneys…
November 7, 2017
The Tennessee Supreme Court will hear three cases on November 8, 2017, in Jackson, TN. The details of the cases are as follows: Wednesday, November 8, 2017Drayton Beecher Smith II v. Board of Professional Responsibility - This matter is an appeal of a proceeding in which an attorney…
November 6, 2017
The Trial Court Vacancy Commission met November 6, 2017 in Memphis to consider four applicants for the Criminal Court vacancy in the 30th Judicial District – Shelby County. The vacancy was created by The Honorable James C. Beasley, Jr. who informed the Governor that he will retire effective…
November 3, 2017
The Supreme Court of Tennessee reversed and remanded for a new sentencing hearing a fatal driving under the influence case from Claiborne County involving the defendant’s overuse of prescription pain medication. The trial court sentenced the defendant to eight years in prison, but the Court of…
October 30, 2017
Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam appointed Carter S. Moore of Cosby as Circuit Court Judge for the 4th Judicial District, which serves Cocke, Grainger, Jefferson and Sevier counties.Moore replaces retiring Judge Ben W. Hooper II. Moore, 35, has been self-employed as an attorney in Cocke County…
October 25, 2017
The Tennessee Supreme Court recently recognized attorneys and law students who performed over 50 hours of pro bono service in the previous calendar year as 2017 Attorneys for Justice. The ceremony was held in front of family and friends at Belmont University College of Law in Nashville.Supreme…
October 20, 2017
In a case where a tractor-trailer, rear-end collision in Memphis resulted in a multi-million dollar jury verdict, the Tennessee Supreme Court upheld most of the trial court’s legal rulings, but it clarified when and how both trial and appeals courts can reduce jury verdicts. Plaintiff Donriel…
October 20, 2017
In a Hamblen County case involving a trust for a severely disabled child, the Tennessee Supreme Court held that Tennessee law authorized the trustee to sign an agreement requiring the trust to “arbitrate” claims against the broker who managed the trust funds. Arbitration is a process where parties…
October 18, 2017
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today appointed James L. Gass of Dandridge as special judge for Circuit Court in the 4th Judicial District.Gass’s appointment fills the temporary vacancy due to the recent illness of Circuit Court Judge Richard R. Vance. The 4th Judicial District serves Jefferson,…
October 18, 2017
The Supreme Court of Tennessee’s Access to Justice (ATJ) program recently joined forces with Legal Aid of East Tennessee (LAET) to honor attorneys who earned the Court’s prestigious “Attorney for Justice” recognition in…
October 17, 2017
The Tennessee Faith and Justice Alliance, a project of the Tennessee Supreme Court, will be hosting the first annual statewide Pro Bono & Faith Days (#pbfdays) from Oct. 21 to Oct. 29. All houses of worship and faith-based partners are encouraged to provide information to their networks about…
October 16, 2017
The Trial Court Vacancy Commission will consider four applicants when it meets on Monday, November 6, 2017 in Memphis to select nominees for the Criminal Court vacancy in the 30th Judicial District – Shelby County. The vacancy was created by The Honorable James C. Beasley, Jr. who informed the…
October 16, 2017
The Supreme Court of Tennessee issued guidance on the steps courts should follow when a creditor sells collateral used to obtain a loan, but does not provide the required notice of the sale. The case involved a bank loan that was used to purchase an airplane, with the plane itself and additional…
October 12, 2017
The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) has extended its deadline for court security grant applications to Friday, November 17, 2017. Grant applications received on or before the original due date of October 16, 2017 will move forward in the review and decision process.The AOC launched a one-…
October 9, 2017
The Tennessee Supreme Court will hear five cases on October 11, 2017, in Nashville, TN. The details of the cases are as follows: Wednesday, October 11, 2017Athlon Sports Communications, Inc., v. Stephen C. Duggan, et al. - This case considers the stock valuation method for determining…
October 6, 2017
A first-of-its-kind regional judicial effort by states to combat the opioid epidemic is receiving a $1 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance.The Regional Judicial Opioid Initiative (RJOI) was formed a year ago to explore ways that state leaders…
October 5, 2017
In an opinion filed today, the Supreme Court of Tennessee clarified when a serious bodily injury must occur during a robbery to elevate the crime to especially aggravated robbery. This clarification is important because especially aggravated robbery carries a longer sentence than aggravated…
October 3, 2017
The Tennessee Supreme Court, acting on recommendations from its Indigent Representation Task Force, is taking action to reform the state’s method for providing legal assistance to individuals who are unable to afford an attorney.“The task force confirmed what many of us already suspected: The…
September 29, 2017
The Trial Court Vacancy Commission met today Friday, September 29, 2017 to consider five candidates for Circuit Court vacancy in the 17th Judicial District – Bedford, Lincoln, Marshall, and Moore Counties. The vacancy was created when the Honorable Lee Russell announced he will retire effective…