Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Gary R. Wade will be sworn in by Gov. Phil Bredesen during a formal investiture ceremony at 2 p.m. Sept. 22 at the Sevier County Courthouse. The public is invited.
“I am deeply honored that the governor is traveling to my home town to take part in an event that is so special to my family and to me,” Wade said. “The people of my community have been so supportive for so long. I want to provide them the opportunity to share in this joyous occasion.”
The governor appointed Wade June 6 to fill one of two vacancies on the Supreme Court created by the retirements of Justices E. Riley Anderson of Knoxville and Adolpho A. Birch, Jr., of Nashville. Both retirements were effective Sept. 1, when Wade took office.
Circuit Court Judge Rex Henry Ogle of the 4th Judicial District will preside over the investiture ceremony for Wade. Others who will participate include Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Norma Ogle; Appellate Court Clerk Michael Catalano; Sevier County Mayor Larry Waters; Sevierville Mayor Bryan Atchley; Col. John Patrick, marshal of the Tennessee Supreme Court; Jamesena Miller, community volunteer; and Rev. Randy Davis of First Baptist Church of Sevierville.
Wade served on the Court of Criminal Appeals from 1987 until his appointment to the Supreme Court. A partner in the law firm of Ogle, Wade, & Wynn, he was mayor of Sevierville for five two-year terms and city attorney for the City of Pigeon Forge from 1973 to 1987.
He graduated from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and the University of Tennessee School of Law.
