The Tennessee Supreme Court is seeking a visionary executive leader to serve as the Clerk of the Appellate Courts, a pivotal role at the intersection of judicial administration, organizational leadership, and technological transformation. This is a rare, career-defining opportunity to lead the modernization of Tennessee’s appellate court operations with a high performing, deeply engaged team of more than 30 professionals across three Grand Divisions: Nashville, Knoxville, and Jackson.
The successful candidate will work directly with the Justices of the Supreme Court, including Chief Justice Jeff Bivins, to advance the court’s strategic vision for a more accessible, efficient, and innovative judiciary.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Executive Leadership & Organizational Development Including strategic vision, team building, internal and external stakeholder engagement, and change leadership.
- Technology Strategy & Digital Transformation Including modernization oversight, systems integration, compliance management, training, and expanding public access.
- Records Management & Business Operations Including caseflow management, opinion filing, revenue administration, fiduciary responsibilities, and budget oversight.
- Building Administration & Public Service Including courtroom administration, Bar admission ceremonies, educational outreach, professionalism, and exemplary service to the public.
IDEAL CANDIDATE PROFILE
The Tennessee Supreme Court is seeking a sophisticated, experienced leader who combines executive
presence with hands-on operational credibility. The ideal candidate will demonstrate:
- Proven leadership ability to set strategic direction, model and promote accountability, and build confidence in staff to effectively understand and contribute to the court’s mission.
- Demonstrated success in standardizing processes across diverse offices containing staff with various levels of experience.
- Exceptional skill in training staff, providing constructive feedback and performance guidance, and encouraging a culture of continuous learning and development.
- Ability to represent the court with integrity in all interactions, maintaining an absolute duty of impartiality.
- Commitment to professionalism, attention to detail and accuracy.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school.
- Demonstrated track record of senior leadership in complex organizations, preferably within the judiciary, legal administration, or public sector.
- Proven experience leading large-scale technology implementations or organizational change initiatives.
- Strong fiscal management skills, including budget oversight and fiduciary responsibility.
- Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trust, inspire teams, and navigate complex stakeholder environments.
For more information, view the job description.
HOW TO APPLY
Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, current resume or CV, and three professional
references to Alecia Burke and John Bello. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with priority
consideration given to submissions received by early March 2026.
John Bello
Interim Managing Director
National Center for State Courts
757-259-1527
jbello@ncsc.org
Alecia Burke
Senior Court Management Consultant
National Center for State Courts
757-570-4654
aburke@ncsc.org
ABOUT US
TENNESSEE SUPREME COURT
The Tennessee Supreme Court is the state’s court of last resort. The five Supreme Court justices may
accept appeals of civil and criminal cases from lower state courts. They also interpret the laws and
constitutions of Tennessee and the United States. The Supreme Court may assume jurisdiction over
undecided cases in the Court of Appeals or Court of Criminal Appeals when there is special need for an
expedited decision.
Attorneys may request to present oral arguments before the Supreme Court. Unlike trials in lower
courts, there are no witnesses, juries, or testimonies in the Supreme Court. After Supreme Court
justices have heard oral arguments and reviewed the attorneys’ written materials, or briefs, they issue
written decisions, known as opinions. Tennessee Supreme Court opinions on federal constitutional
issues can be appealed only to the United States Supreme Court, which may or may not agree to
consider the appeals.
The Supreme Court normally meets in Jackson, Knoxville, and Nashville, as required by the state
constitution. However, the court may also meet in alternate locations as necessary. A few times a year,
the Supreme Court takes their oral arguments on the road as part of the SCALES program (Supreme
Court Advancing Legal Education for Students). The SCALES program gives Tennessee high school
students the unique opportunity to hear Supreme Court oral arguments and learn more about the
judicial process.
APPELLATE COURT CLERK’S OFFICE
The Appellate Court Clerk’s office works for the Tennessee Supreme Court, Tennessee Court
of Appeals and Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals. Relative to these Courts, the primary
responsibilities of the Office of the Appellate Court Clerk include:
- Filing and processing all briefs, motions and other documents for cases on appeal
- Scheduling all oral arguments
- Filing all orders and opinions issued
- Notifying all parties to appeals of all filings
The dedicated staff with 30 employees are located at the Supreme Court buildings in Nashville,
Knoxville, and Jackson, Tennessee.
Tennessee Supreme Court:
Nashville
401 Seventh Avenue North
Nashville, TN 37219
Tennessee Supreme Court:
Knoxville
505 Main Street
Knoxville, TN 37902
Tennessee Supreme Court:
Jackson
6 Hwy 45 Bypass
Jackson, TN 38301