News
February 16, 2024
The Tennessee Supreme Court today held that an arbitration agreement signed by a power of attorney as part of the paperwork for admittance to an assisted living facility was not a health care decision because it was optional and not required for admission. The Court also concluded that the next of…
February 16, 2024
The Tennessee Supreme Court today reversed the decision of a Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility hearing panel suspending the law license of Nashville attorney Brian Manookian and instead permanently disbarred Mr. Manookian. The Court held that, after Mr. Manookian’s continuing, serious…
February 14, 2024
Shelby County General Sessions Judge Deborah Means Henderson was honored with a Resolution, sponsored by Commissioner Erika Sugarmon, at the February 5 Shelby County Commission Meeting.
Commissioner Sugarmon read the Resolution, which reads: Whereas Judge Henderson is an active member of Delta…
February 8, 2024
The Board of Judicial Conduct issued a public reprimand of Shelby County General Sessions Judge Bill Anderson. Read the reprimand here.
February 6, 2024
The Tennessee Supreme Court today upheld eleven convictions stemming from a string of robberies that occurred in Nashville over the course of a month. However, the Court reversed a twelfth conviction and remanded for a new trial on that charge, holding that the trial court erred in denying a…
February 5, 2024
The Executive Committee of the Tennessee Judicial Conference, which represents all state judges, recently sent a letter to Governor Bill Lee, Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally, House Speaker Cameron Sexton and members of the Tennessee General Assembly to increase funding for indigent representation…
February 4, 2024
Last week the Tennessee Supreme Court hosted state supreme court chief justices from around the country as the Conference of Chief Justices held its Mid-Year Meeting in Nashville.
While normally only the chief justice from each state attends CCJ conferences, all five Tennessee Supreme Court…
February 1, 2024
Today, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced the appointment of Judge Mary L. Wagner to the Tennessee Supreme Court.
“Mary is a highly qualified judge who will bring significant experience to the Tennessee Supreme Court,” Governor Lee said. “Her understanding and respect for the rule of law and…
January 31, 2024
The Association for Women Attorneys (AWA) of Memphis honored Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals Presiding Judge Camille McMullen with the Marion Griffin-Frances Loring Award at its annual banquet on January 25. The award is presented to someone who exhibits outstanding achievement in the legal…
January 26, 2024
The Board of Judicial Conduct has recommended that the Tennessee General Assembly remove Judge Melissa Boyd, a criminal court judge in the 30th Judicial District (Shelby County), from office.…
January 25, 2024
The Tennessee Supreme Court today upheld the decisions of a Board of Professional Responsibility Hearing Panel and chancery court to permanently disbar attorney Thomas Fleming Mabry.
In 2019, the Board of Professional Responsibility filed a petition for discipline against Mr. Mabry based on his…
January 24, 2024
The Tennessee Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges has issued the following statement:
Our Executive Committee, on behalf of our state’s juvenile courts, wish to comment upon the proposal to sunset the Board of Court Reporting and to eliminate the licensure requirements for court reporters…
January 19, 2024
The Tennessee General Sessions Judges Conference recently sent a letter to Governor Bill Lee, Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally, House Speaker Cameron Sexton and members of the Tennessee General Assembly to increase funding for indigent representation in the state. The text of the letter is below…
January 12, 2024
Encouragement. That is the single word that best defines 16th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Terry Fann’s journey to becoming a judge. Judge Fann was appointed by Governor Bill Lee in November 2023 to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Mark Rogers.
“My youngest son was married in…
January 9, 2024
The Southeast Legal Association for Women (SETLAW) awarded 11th Judicial District (Hamilton County) Chancellor Pamela Fleenor with their Lioness of the Bar Award recently in Chattanooga.
“I’m very humbled by that and honored because, first of all, the prior recipients are people I admire,” said…
January 9, 2024
The Board of Judicial Conduct has issued a public reprimand of Rutherford County General Sessions Judge Toby Gilley. Read the reprimand here.
January 4, 2024
The Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments met today to consider six applicants for an upcoming vacancy on the Tennessee Supreme Court. The vacancy was created by the upcoming retirement of the Honorable Roger A. Page, effective August 31, 2024.
After holding a public hearing and conducting…
December 15, 2023
In recognition of Judge Gina C. Higgins’ exemplary service to the Summer Law Internship Program (SLIP), the Memphis Bar Association (MBA) established The Honorable Gina C. Higgins Endowment Fund. The MBA surprised Judge Higgins when it announced the endowment fund at its annual meeting on December…
December 14, 2023
The Board of Judicial Conduct has issued an Order of Interim Suspension of 30th Judicial District Judge Melissa Boyd. Read the suspension here.
December 11, 2023
The Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments will consider six candidates when it meets to select nominees for the Tennessee Supreme Court vacancy created by the upcoming retirement of the Honorable Roger A. Page, effective August 31, 2024.
The applicants are:…