Circuit Court Judge George Sexton of the 23rd Judicial District, including Cheatham, Dickson, Houston, Humphreys and Stewart counties, has completed an intensive four-day Judicial Academy conducted Nov. 17-20 by the state Administrative Office of the Courts.
Sexton, of Dover, was among 14 trial and general sessions judges from across the state who attended the academy in Nashville. Gov. Phil Bredesen appointed Sexton to the bench in February to fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Allen Wallace, who took senior judge status.
Courses for judges elected or appointed since the last academy in 2000 included transition from bar to bench; dealing with stress; docket control; civil and criminal jury instruction; how to handle juries; reversals; contempt of court; and judicial writing. They also completed courses on workers compensation; ethics; evidence; criminal law; procedure, search warrants and sentencing; domestic relations; and Supreme Court Rule 13 dealing with the appointment of attorneys for indigent defendants.
Circuit Court Judge Steve Stafford of Dyersburg served as the academy’s dean and current and former Tennessee judges taught the courses.