News
June 29, 2013
The Judicial Nominating Commission met on June 27 in Chattanooga, June 28 in Nashville, and June 29 in Jackson to hold public hearings and conduct interviews of candidates for the upcoming Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals and Court of Appeals vacancies.After interviewing a total of 35 candidates…
June 29, 2013
Memphis attorney Glenn Wright was appointed by Gov. Bill Haslam to the 30th Judicial District Criminal Court opening.Wright was one of three names submitted in late March to Haslam for the opening created by the death of Judge W. Otis Higgs in February.Wright has been a lifelong resident of the…
June 28, 2013
The Judicial Nominating Commission met on June 28, 2013 in Nashville, Tenn., to hold a public hearing and conduct interviews of candidates for the upcoming Court of Appeals vacancy in the Middle Grand Division.After interviewing the 10 candidates and conducting several rounds of voting, the…
June 28, 2013
The Tennessee Supreme Court ruled 4-1 today that a defendant in a health care liability action must act in a timely manner to assert that the claim is prohibited because it was filed too late by the plaintiff.Plaintiff Eddie C. Pratcher Jr. filed a medical malpractice lawsuit in December 2000,…
June 27, 2013
Tennessee Court of Appeals Judge Richard H. Dinkins spoke recently to a dozen participants in the Nashville Bar Association High School Internship Program.Judge Dinkins, who has participated in the program for several years, hosted lunch and invited the students into the court chambers, where he…
June 27, 2013
The Judicial Nominating Commission met on June 27, 2013 in Chattanooga, Tenn., to hold a public hearing and conduct interviews of candidates for the upcoming Court of Criminal Appeals vacancy in the Eastern Grand Division.After interviewing the candidates and conducting a vote, the commission has…
June 27, 2013
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today appointed Mike Faulk as circuit court judge for the Third Judicial District, replacing Judge Kindall T. Lawson, who retired effective June 1. “Mike will bring vast experience to the bench,” Haslam said. “He has served his state well in the past, and I know he…
June 26, 2013
After more than 17 years and many firsts, Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Janice M. Holder will make August 31, 2014, her last day with the state’s highest court.Justice Holder announced that she is retiring at the end of her current term and will not seek re-election in the August 2014 judicial…
June 24, 2013
The Tennessee Supreme Court ruled today that state criminal charges pending against Michael Shane Springer must be dismissed based on his multiple transfers between federal and state correctional facilities, a violation of the Interstate Agreement on Detainers (IAD).The IAD is an agreement among…
June 24, 2013
The Tennessee Supreme Court ruled today that Williamson County attorney Walter Ray Culp, III is not entitled to reinstatement of his law license, which was suspended in 2006 after he pleaded guilty to the crime of attempted extortion in federal court.The Supreme Court suspended Mr. Culp from…
Supreme Court Rules Tossing Murder Weapon in Plain View Near Crime Scene Not Tampering With Evidence
June 20, 2013
The Tennessee Supreme Court has upheld a Memphis man’s conviction for first-degree murder, but reversed his conviction for tampering with physical evidence.Ledarren Hawkins fatally shot Jerome Ellington during a gang fight in a parking lot in Jackson, Tennessee. As he fled the scene, he tossed the…
June 20, 2013
Chancellor Jerri S. Bryant, of the 10th Judicial District, was sworn in Friday by Chief Justice Gary Wade as president of the Tennessee Judicial Conference. Bryant, of Athens, has been a judge since 1998.The change in the conference’s leadership, including installation of new officers, took place…
June 19, 2013
The Judicial Nominating Commission will consider ten applicants when it meets later this month in Jackson to select nominees for the upcoming vacancy on the Tennessee Court of Appeals Western Section.The opening is the result of Court of Appeals Judge Alan E. Highers informing Gov. Bill Haslam that…
June 18, 2013
The Tennessee Bar Association honored Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Janice M. Holder with the group’s Justice Frank F. Drowota III Outstanding Judicial Service Award.Justice Holder was recognized for her service with lawyers’ assistance programs and access to justice issues. She serves as the…
June 14, 2013
The Judicial Nominating Commission met on June 14, 2013 in Johnson City, Tenn., to hold a public hearing and conduct interviews of candidates for the Chancery Court vacancy in the 1st Judicial District.After interviewing the candidates and conducting a vote, they have submitted the following three…
June 14, 2013
Forest A. Durard, Jr., has been appointed by Governor Bill Haslam as Circuit Court judge in the 17th Judicial District.“Forest brings valuable experience to the bench from a career that includes both the public and private sectors,” Haslam said. “I know he will serve the citizens of the 17th…
June 12, 2013
Three judges, one magistrate and 21 attorneys have applied to fill anticipated 2014 vacancies on the Tennessee Court of Appeals and Court of Criminal Appeals.The openings are the result of announcements by Court of Appeals Judge Patricia Cottrell and Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Joseph Tipton…
June 11, 2013
Nashville School of Law’s 20th annual Recognition Dinner honored individuals with decades of service to the legal community as well as the entire Nashville community.
Retired Judge Barbara Haynes was recognized with the Distinguished Alumni Award; Supreme Court Attorney Marshall Davidson…
June 10, 2013
The AOC is seeking qualified vendors to submit a proposal to analyze the current indigent claims payment business processes and make recommendations that may lead to the re-engineering of these processes where needed. The proposal should also include the development and…
June 7, 2013
Driving Under the Influence cases will take priority in a single court under an innovative plan implemented by the Davidson County trial courts this week.The 18 trial court judges approved a plan effective October 15 that transfers first-, second- and third-offense DUIs, as well as all other driver…