Judicial Speakers Bureau

The judges on this page have agreed to make presentations about a variety of topics pertaining to the law and our court system. This list includes the topics each judge is willing to speak  and where they are willing to travel.

If you would like a judge to speak to your school or community group, please click on the judge's name to get their contact information. To contact retired Judges or you need additional assistance, you may contact MediaInquiries@tncourts.gov

To find an attorney to speak in your area, please click here.

The list of judges is separated by section of the state. Click on the links below to view the judges in your area.

East Tennessee

Judge Location Topics

Judge Skip Frierson
Court of Appeals

Knoxville, TN
(will speak within 50 miles)

Tennessee judicial system
History of Chancery courts in Tennessee
History of adoptions in Tennessee
Judicial Ethics
Appellate court written and oral advocacy
Other law related topics

Judge James E. Lauderback
1st Judicial District Circuit Court
Jonesborough, TN
(will speak within 50 miles)

Court Structure
Tennessee Court System
Any law-related topic
 

Judge Thomas J. Wright (retired)
3rd Judicial District Circuit Court

Greeneville, TN
(will speak within 75 miles)

Treatment/Drug Courts
Divorce and Children
Tennessee Judicial System
Any law-related topic
 

Judge David R. Duggan
5th Judicial District Circuit Court

Maryville, TN
(will speak within 50 miles)

Tennessee judicial system
Drug Courts
Criminal Procedure

Judge Bill Ailor
6th Judicial District Circuit Court
 

Knoxville, TN
(will speak statewide)
Any law-related topic
Judge Andrew M. Freiberg
10th Judicial District Circuit Court
Athens, TN
(will speak in Bradley, McMinn, Monroe and Polk counties)
Any law-related topic
Chancellor Doug Jenkins
3rd Judicial District Chancery Court
Rogersville, TN
(will speak statewide)
Any law-related topic
Chancery Court & Ethics

Chancellor Jerri Bryant
10th Judicial District Chancery Court

Athens, TN

Ethics
Chancery Court
Any law-related topic

Chancellor Pamela Fleenor
11th Judicial District Chancery Court
Chattanooga, TN
(will speak within 100 miles of Chattanooga)

Court System
Conservatorships
 

Judge Jeff Hollingsworth (retired)
11th Judicial District Circuit Court

Chattanooga, TN
(will speak statewide)
Court System Structure
Juries
Domestic Law Issues
Domestic Violence
 
Judge Don Poole (retired)
11th Judicial District
Chattanooga, TN

Criminal Law
Function of Various Courts
Sentencing Considerations

Judge Justin C. Angel
12th Judicial District Circuit Court

Pikeville, TN
(will speak statewide)
 

Millennials in legal practice
Rural Practice
Social Media
 

Judge R. Wylie Richardson
McMinn County General Sessions/Juvenile Court

Athens, TN
(will speak with 75 miles of Athens)
 

Criminal Law
Juvenile Law
Constitutional Law
Functions of Various Courts

Judge Dwight Stokes
Sevier County General Sessions Court
Sevierville, TN

Criminal Law
Judicial Ethics
Juvenile Law 
Constitutional Law



Middle Tennessee

Judge Location Topics
Judge Robert Wedemeyer
Court of Criminal Appeals
Nashville, TN
(will speak statewide)

Tennessee Plan (Judicial Selection)
Any law-related topic
Any topic related to the judiciary

Judge Frank Clement
Court of Appeals
Nashville, TN

Any law-related topic (except criminal, domestic or tax law)

Judge Paul Summers (retired)
Senior Judge
Nashville, TN
(will speak within 3 hours of Nashville)

Judicial System
Appellate Courts
Office of Attorney General
Tennessee Constitution
Criminal Law
Legislature
Executive and Judicial Branches


Chancellor Louis W. Olliver III
18th Judicial District Chancery Court
 
Gallatin, TN
(will speak in Davidson and surrounding counties)
Domestic relation issues
Will and Probate issues (with the exception of trusts/taxation issues)
Joe P. Binkley, Jr.
20th Judicial District Circuit Court
Nashville, TN
(will speak in middle Tennessee)
Any law-related topic
Judge Hamilton Gayden (retired)
20th Judicial District Circuit Court
Nashville, TN
(will speak within 50 miles)

Tennessee’s Role in the 19th Amendment (Women’s Suffrage)
Any law-related topic

Chancellor Russell T. Perkins
20th Judicial District Chancery Court
 

Nashville, TN
(will speak in Middle Tennessee)
 

Any law-related topic
Public Service
 

Judge Monte Watkins (retired)
20th Judicial District Criminal Court
Nashville, TN
(will speak within 100 miles)

Judicial System
Ethics
Motivational Matters

Judge Timothy Easter
Court of Criminal Appeals

Franklin, TN

Drug Courts
SCALES
Tennessee Judicial System
Judicial Ethics

Judge James Martin (retired)
21st Judicial District Circuit Court

Franklin, TN

The job of a circuit court judge

Judge Lynda F. Jones
Davidson County General Sessions Court
Nashville, TN
(will speak in Davidson County)

Basic Jurisdiction of GS Court
Tennessee Court System
Building partnerships w/nonprofits
Motivational topics for 7th & 8th graders

 

Judge Barry Tidwell
Rutherford County General Sessions Court
Murfreesboro, TN
 

State Criminal Procedure
Consitutional Law
Judicial Ethics
Federal Criminal Procedure

Judge Bill Higgins (retired)
Davidson County General Sessions Court
Nashville, TN General legal topics

Judge Angelita Blackshear Dalton
20th Judicial District Criminal Court

Nashville, TN
(will speak within 50 miles)

Domestic Violence
Handling Cases in GS Court
 

     



West Tennessee

Judge Location Topics
Judge Bill Acree
Senior Judge

Union City, TN
(will speak within 50 miles)

Drug Courts

Judge Camille R. McMullen
Court of Criminal Appeals
Memphis, TN
(will speak statewide)
Diversity in the law/judiciary
Judge Larry J. Logan (retired)
Carroll County General
Sessions Court

McKenzie, TN
(will speak within 75 miles)
 

Any law-related topic
Judge Betty J. Thomas Moore
Shelby County General
Sessions Court
Memphis, TN
(will speak statewide)
Civil  and Criminal Issues
 
Judge Larry E. Potter (retired)
Shelby County General
Sessions Court
Memphis, TN
(will speak statewide)

Housing code
Fire/Anti-neglect code
Health code
Animal control
Construction and zoning
Nuisances
Neighborhood Preservation Act
Littering
Wildlife code
 

Judge Gerald Skahan (retired)
Shelby County General
Sessions Court
Memphis, TN
 

Criminal Law
Court Issues
Mental Health Court
Veterans and Drub Court
 

Judge Kathy Gomes
Shelby County Probate Court
Memphis, TN
(will speak within 50 miles of Memphis)

Wills
Conservatorships
Mental Health Commitment
 

Chancellor Tony Childress
29th Judicial District Chancery Court

Dyersburg, TN
(will speak in NW Tennessee)

Any law-related topic

Judge Gina C. Higgins
30th Judicial Circuit Court
Memphis, TN
(will speak statewide)
Civil matters
Rhynette N. Hurd
30th Judicial Circuit Court
Memphis, TN
(prefers Middle & West Tennessee)
Civil Trial
Candor & Civility
Self-represented litigants
Implicit Bias
Judge J. Robert Carter, Jr.
30th Judicial District Criminal Court

Memphis, TN
(will speak in W Tennessee)
 

Any law-related topic
(preferably criminal)
 

Judge Chris Craft
30th Judicial District Criminal Court

Memphis, TN

Any law-related topic

Judge Mary L. Wagner
30th Judicial District Circuit Court
Memphis, TN
(within 50 miles of Shelby County)
Any law-related topic
(preferabley civil)