Nashville, Tenn. – Criminal Court Judge James C. Beasley Jr. of Memphis has been elected president of the 183-member Tennessee Judicial Conference (TJC), which includes all state appellate and trial court judges. Beasley succeeds Chancellor Skip Frierson, who serves 3rd Judicial District.
“I’m truly honored that my colleagues and friends elected me to lead the Tennessee Judicial Conference,” Beasley said. “This organization plays a big role in promoting the positive work of the judiciary and I look forward to working with my fellow judges to raise awareness about the things that go on in our courtrooms each and every day.”
The Tennessee Judicial Conference provides continuing judicial education for judges, and by statute, the Conference meets and considers the judges’ official duties and obligations with an end to promote the prompt and efficient administration of justice throughout the state. The TJC Foundation also provides scholarships to outstanding law school students.
Beasley has served as criminal court judge in the 30th Judicial District, which serves Shelby County, since 1995. Prior to taking the bench, Beasley served as assistant district attorney general for 17 years. Beasley earned both his bachelor’s degree and law degree from the University of Memphis.
In taking a seat on the bench, Beasley followed in the footsteps of his father, James C. Beasley, who was a longtime member of the Tennessee Judicial Conference. The elder Beasley served as a trial judge from 1970 to 1982 and also served as a designated trial and appellate judge for the next 30 years.
Beasley is married to Elizabeth (Libba) Beasley, his wife of 29 years. They have two daughters – Beth, 26, who lives in Nashville; and Sarah, 20, a student at the University of Tennessee.
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