Trial Court Vacancy Commission

The Trial Court Vacancy Commission operates under the authority of TCA § 17-4-301.  When there is a vacancy to be filled in the trial courts, the Commission will accept applications from qualified attorneys, interview the applicants and then make a recommendation to the Governor for consideration.

Commission Chair
Dean William C. Koch, Jr.

Nashville School of Law
4013 Armory Oaks Drive
Nashville, TN  37204
Phone: (615) 780-2242
Email: bill.koch@NSL.law

Commission Vice-Chair
Harold L. "Hal" North, Jr.
Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel, P.C.
Liberty Tower
605 Chestnut Street, Suite 1700
Chattanooga, TN 37450
Phone: 423-757-0244
Email: hnorth@chamblisslaw.com
 

Commission Secretary
Gilbert W. McCarter, II
McCarter | East PLLC
316 W. Main Street
Murfreesboro, TN 37130

 

Craig Fickling
District Public Defender
13th Judicial District
230 North Washington Ave.
Cookeville TN 38501
Phone: (931) 526-9141
Email: Craig.fickling@tn.gov

Ed Lancaster
Retired Attorney
Columbia, Tennessee
c/o Administrative Office of
the Courts, TCVC
511 Union Street, Suite 600
Nashville, TN 37219
Email: edtnvacancy@fbitn.com

Thomas W. Lawless
Lawless & Associates, P.C.
701 Broadway, Suite 403
The Customs House
Nashville, TN 37203
Phone: (615) 351-7839
Email: tom.lawless@me.com


Brandon Pelizzari
State of Tennessee District Attorney General's Office
7th Judicial District
101 South Main St. Ste. 300
Clinton, TN 37716
Phone: (865) 457-5640
Email: Brandonkpelizzari@gmail.com

David W. Purkey
TN Commissioner of Safety & Homeland Security {RTD}
2272 Cambridge Drive
Morristown, TN 37814
Phone: (423) 714-9189
Email: dwp@musfiber.com

Alexander O. Waters
Long, Ragsdale & Waters, P.C.
1111 N. Northshore Dr., Suite S-700
Knoxville, TN 37919
Phone: (865) 584-4040 ext. 212
Email: awaters@lrwlaw.com

Kesha Waters
CASA of the Tennessee Heartland
1660 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Suite 3
Oak Ridge, TN 37830
Phone: (865) 425-0888
Email: kdswaters@gmail.com

Timothy G. Wehner
Rainey, Kizer, Reviere & Bell PLC
105 S. Highland Ave.
Jackson, TN 38301
Phone: (731) 423-2414
Email: twehner@raineykizer.com

AOC Contacts:

John Jefferson, Esq.
Administrative Office of the Courts
511 Union Street, Suite 600
Nashville, TN  37219
Phone: (615) 741-2687
Fax: (615) 741-6285
Email: John.Jefferson@tncourts.gov