GAVELS Program

The Tennessee Judicial Conference and the Tennessee Bar Association have partnered to create a judicial education program called GAVELS - Gaining Access to Valuable Education about the Legal System. The GAVELS Program is intended to improve public understanding about the judicial branch of government and its importance in our society.

As part of the GAVELS Program, judges and attorneys from across the state have agreed to make presentations to community groups, schools and other organizations who wish to learn more about the legal system in Tennessee.

If you would like a judge or an attorney to speak to your group, please click the links below for a list of judges and attorneys who are participating in this program.

Judicial Speakers Bureau

Attorney Speakers Bureau

Judges and Attorneys Announce New Legal Education Program

October 3, 2011

Nashville, Tenn. – Tennessee judges and attorneys have partnered together to create a new program geared to educate students, community groups and business organizations about the legal system.

The Tennessee Judicial Conference (TJC) and Tennessee Bar Association (TBA) developed the GAVELS program, which stands for Gaining Access to Valuable Education about the Legal System, to fill the growing knowledge gap about the legal system and the important role it plays in our government.

As part of the GAVELS Program, judges and attorneys from across the state have agreed to make presentations about a variety of legal topics to groups that wish to learn more about the Tennessee judicial system.

“The judicial branch of government is often forgotten and misunderstood,” said Hamilton County Circuit Court Judge Jeff Hollingsworth, who chairs the TJC’s public confidence in the courts committee. “We hope this program helps demystify the court system and shed some light on the important role the judiciary plays in our democratic society.”

“People tend to ignore the importance of the legal system until they are confronted with it – either through jury service or because they have encountered their own legal issue,” said TBA President Danny Van Horn. “We want to educate students and the public about how the legal system works and how it impacts their everyday lives.”

A list of available judges and attorneys and the topics they are willing to speak about are available online at www.tncourts.gov and www.tba.org. Schools, civic organizations and business groups are welcome to request a speaker by contacting a judge or attorney listed on either website.