News
July 14, 2023
The Tennessee Supreme Court today held that the criminal gang-enhancement statute, Tennessee Code Annotated section 40-35-121, is worded broadly and does not require the State to specify in the indictment a criminal defendant’s gang subset. The statute also does not require the indictment to set…
July 12, 2023
The Trial Court Vacancy Commission met today, July 12, in Clarksville to select nominees for a circuit court judge vacancy in the 19th judicial district, which covers Montgomery and Robertson Counties. The new judicial position was created by the Tennessee General Assembly through Public…
July 11, 2023
The Tennessee Supreme Court has suspended Shelby County attorney Gerald D. Waggoner, Jr. from the practice of law in Tennessee for two years for violating disciplinary rules.
In 2017, the Tennessee Supreme Court suspended Mr. Waggoner for three years from the practice of law for removing client…
July 7, 2023
The Tennessee Supreme Court issued an opinion today holding that Supreme Court Rule 13, which provides the procedure for administering funds appropriated by the Tennessee Legislature for assisting indigent litigants in capital cases, was constitutionally applied in the State’s case against Jessie…
July 6, 2023
The Trial Court Vacancy Commission is accepting applications for a Circuit Court Judge in the Twenty-First Judicial District, which covers Williamson County. This vacancy will be created by the upcoming retirement of Judge Michael W. Binkley on September 29, 2023.
Qualified applicants must be…
July 6, 2023
The Trial Court Vacancy Commission is accepting applications for a Circuit Court Judge in the Sixteenth Judicial District, which covers Rutherford and Cannon Counties. This vacancy will be created by the upcoming retirement of Judge J. Mark Rogers on September 1, 2023.
Qualified applicants must be…
June 30, 2023
Today, the Tennessee Supreme Court affirmed the suspension of Sevier County attorney James Ralph Hickman, Jr. from the practice of law in the State but increased the length of his active suspension. A Hearing Panel of the Board of Professional Responsibility originally imposed a one-year suspension…
June 29, 2023
In an opinion released today, the Tennessee Supreme Court ruled that persons who lose the right to vote in Tennessee because of a criminal conviction in another state must comply with requirements set forth in two different Tennessee statutes, both of which address voting rights, in order to regain…
June 27, 2023
The Court of Criminal Appeals has elected Judge Camille R. McMullen as its Presiding Judge. She succeeds Judge Curwood Witt of Knoxville. Judge McMullen was appointed to the Court of Criminal Appeals by former Governor Phil Bredesen in 2008. She will become the first woman and the…
June 12, 2023
The Trial Court Vacancy Commission will consider three applicants when it meets on July 13 in Columbia to select nominees for a circuit court judge vacancy in the 22nd judicial district, which includes Giles, Lawrence, Maury and Wayne counties. The new judicial position was created by the…
June 12, 2023
The Trial Court Vacancy Commission will consider five applicants when it meets on July 18 in Crossville to select nominees for a criminal court judge vacancy in the 13th judicial district, which includes Clay, Cumberland, DeKalb, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, and White counties. The new judicial…
June 12, 2023
The Trial Court Vacancy Commission will consider four applicants when it meets on July 12 in Clarksville to select nominees for a circuit court judge vacancy in the 19th judicial district, which covers Montgomery and Robertson Counties. The new judicial position was created by the Tennessee…
Tennessee Supreme Court Holds Restitution Statute Does Not Require Trial Courts To Set Payment Terms
June 8, 2023
The Tennessee Supreme Court issued opinions in two cases holding that restitution orders in criminal cases need not contain payment terms or a payment schedule to be final and appealable. Orders for restitution only have to set the amount of restitution; and, if no payment time is set, then the…
June 8, 2023
The Tennessee Supreme Court today adopted Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 55 – Use of Technology for Court Proceedings. The rule allows the use of teleconferencing, video conferencing, and other technology to conduct court proceedings remotely at the discretion of the trial or appellate court.
Over…
May 31, 2023
The Tennessee Supreme Court has three cases set for its June 1, 2023, docket. The first two cases will be heard in Nashville beginning at 1 p.m. CDT. The final case will be submitted on briefs. The cases will be livestreamed to the TNCourts YouTube page at: …
May 30, 2023
On May 17, the 21st Judicial District Recovery Court, in Williamson County, received a $5,000 grant from the Nashville Predators Foundation.
“I’m just very, very grateful to the Predators Foundation and their care for the community, and so many of the things they do because we feel like when we…
May 25, 2023
The Tennessee Supreme Court held today that a cap imposed by the Division of TennCare on reimbursements to certain healthcare providers is a “rule” within the meaning of the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act that should have been implemented through notice-and-comment rulemaking.
As part of a…
May 24, 2023
First Judicial District Chancellor John C. Rambo of Jonesborough will be honored next month at the TBA Annual Convention with the Judge Pamela L. Reeves Tennessee Professionalism Award from the Tennessee Bar Association and the Tennessee American Inns of Court. The award will be presented at the…
May 23, 2023
The Tennessee Supreme Court will hold oral arguments on May 24, 2023, before an accomplished group of Tennessee’s high school students at American Legion Boys State at Tennessee Technological University. The event is part of the Court’s award-winning SCALES program, which stands for Supreme…
May 23, 2023
In an opinion released today, a majority of the Tennessee Supreme Court held that the trial court in a healthcare liability action appropriately declined to require a defendant physician to opine on the defendant nurse-midwife’s performance outside of the physician’s presence.
In 2014, a child…