Over the course of a career, many attorneys will walk into a courtroom through the main door, take a position behind a counsel table, and advocate zealously for their client by raising objections, questioning witnesses, making motions, and submitting evidence. However, the view and role from behind the judicial bench is quite different. Recently, Tennessee welcomed nine new state judges to the bench. At the first Tennessee Judicial Conference of 2018, they attended a special training called the Mini-Judicial Academy created just for new judges.
The sessions included discussions on courtroom security featuring Brian Grisham of the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy; ethics, recusal, and election with Chancellor Jerri Bryant and Tim Discenza, disciplinary counsel with the Tennessee Board of Judicial Conduct; contempt with Judge Steven Stafford; search warrants with Judge Chris Craft; and case management with Chancellor Bryant and Judge Robert Holloway.
In addition to the Mini-Judicial Academy, new judges attend the TJC, mentor with more experienced judges, have access to hundreds of continuing legal education materials available online through the Administrative Office of the Courts, and can participate in online and in-person classes through the National Judicial College.
The new judges in attendance were: Wyatt Burk, Angelita Blackshear Dalton, Ross Dyer, James Gass, Kyle Hedrick, Carter Moore, Jennifer Nichols, William Rogers, David Rudolph, and Barry Tidwell.
