Circuit Court Judge Don Ash of Murfreesboro has assumed office as president of the Tennessee Judicial Conference, which includes all of the state’s 178 trial and appellate court judges. He succeeded Chancellor Steven Stafford of Dyersburg, whose term ended Friday during the annual Judicial Conference in Memphis.
“Our Tennessee Judiciary includes many fine men and women and I am honored to serve with them,” Ash said. “It is a humbling experience to be chosen to lead our Judicial Conference. The Conference will focus our efforts on improving how victims are treated in the court system, enhancing courtroom technology and creating a Tennessee Judicial Family Institute. With so many important issues impacting the judiciary, I believe it will be a challenging year."
Other new TJC officers are Circuit Court Judge John S. McLellan, III, of Kingsport, president-elect; Criminal Court Judge Cheryl Blackburn of Nashville, vice-president; Circuit Court Judge John Rollins of Manchester, secretary; and Circuit Court Judge John Turnbull of Livingston, treasurer. Executive Committee members are Chancellor Thomas R. (Skip) Frierson of Morristown; Circuit Court Judges Barbara Haynes of Nashville and Tim Easter of Brentwood; and Court of Appeals Judge David Farmer of Jackson.
Ash has been a Circuit Court judge in Rutherford and Cannon counties - the 16th Judicial District - since 1994. He previously served as city judge in LaVergne and was in the private practice of law. From 1997-99, he was a member of the Tennessee Court of the Judiciary, which enforces the code of conduct for judges.
The new TJC president was instrumental in drafting Tennessee’s Parenting Plan, which became state law in 2001. Under the law, divorcing couples with minor children are required to attend parenting classes and work out a detailed parenting plan. The emphasis is on keeping both parents involved in their children’s lives.
Ash earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Middle Tennessee State University and a Doctor of Jurisprudence in 1980 from Memphis State School of Law. In 2000, he became the first Tennessee judge to obtain a Masters Degree in Judicial Studies from the University of Nevada in Reno.
He was a co-founder and past president of the Boys and Girls Club of Rutherford County. Other civic activities include serving on the Domestic Violence Task Force for Rutherford County and as a trustee for the MTSU Foundation. He also has been active in Rotary Club, United Way, the American Heart Association, Leadership Rutherford, Hospice of Rutherford County, PTA, the Webb School Parent Association, Hope Clinic and MainStreet of Murfreesboro.
He is married to Rita Ash and has four children.