News
May 23, 2025
Nashville, Tenn- The Trial Court Vacancy Commission is currently accepting applications to fill vacancies in the 30th Judicial District for a Circuit Court judge and a Criminal Court judge following the elevation of the Honorable Valerie L. Smith to the appellate bench and the retirement of the…
May 22, 2025
Nashville, Tenn. - The Tennessee Supreme Court has four cases on its May 29, 2025 docket in Nashville, Tennessee. Oral arguments in three cases will be heard at the Tennessee Supreme Court building in Nashville, beginning at 9:00 a.m. CST, and livestreamed to the…
May 22, 2025
Nashville, Tenn. - The Tennessee Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on May 28, 2025, before an accomplished group of rising high school seniors at the Tennessee American Legion Boys State at Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville. The event is part of the Court’s SCALES…
May 14, 2025
Nashville, Tenn. – The Trial Court Vacancy Commission will consider six applicants when it meets June 10th, 2025, in Lewis County, to select nominees for a Circuit and Chancery court judge in the 32nd Judicial District which covers Hickman, Lewis and Perry counties.The applicants are:N. Tanner Beck…
May 14, 2025
Nashville, Tenn. – The Trial Court Vacancy Commission will consider eight applicants when it meets June 17th, 2025, in Knoxville to select nominees for a criminal court judge in the 6th Judicial District which covers Knox County.The applicants are:Emily F. AbbottJ. Franklin Ammons Heather N.…
May 9, 2025
Governor Bill Lee appointed Jennifer Peck to the 11th Judicial District Circuit Court on May 9, 2025. The 11th Judicial District covers Hamilton County. Jennifer Peck currently serves as the Chief of Staff and Chief Operating Officer at Tennessee’s Department of Commerce and Insurance. She…
May 9, 2025
Today, the Tennessee Supreme Court held that the Quality Improvement Committee (“QIC”) privilege is waivable. Under Tennessee law, healthcare organizations may form a QIC to evaluate patient care. The statute, Tenn. Code Ann. § 68-11-272(c)(1), protects any records and statements “relating to…
April 29, 2025
Nashville, Tenn. – Today the Tennessee Supreme Court held that a trial court could order a man who voluntarily dismissed his own lawsuit to pay his ex-wife’s ’s attorney fees associated with that lawsuit The couple involved in this case, Middle Tennessee attorney John Colley and Vanessa…
April 25, 2025
The Tennessee Supreme Court today held that the state’s collateral estoppel doctrine prevents a plaintiff from relitigating the issue of class certification in a refiled case. Collateral estoppel, sometimes referred to as issue preclusion, is a legal doctrine which bars the same parties from…
April 25, 2025
Nashville, Tenn. –The Tennessee Supreme Court held today that a lawsuit against a nursing home facility may continue, even though the plaintiff in the case, resident Annie Jones, had died. Ms. Jones was an elderly resident of Life Care Center, a nursing home in Tullahoma, Tennessee. In 2019,…
April 21, 2025
Nashville, Tenn- The Trial Court Vacancy Commission is currently accepting applications to fill the vacancy in the 6th Judicial District Criminal Court following the elevation of the Honorable Steven Sword to the appellate bench.The 6th Judicial District covers Knox County. Applicants must be an…
April 21, 2025
Nashville, Tenn. - The Trial Court Vacancy Commission is currently accepting applications for a circuit and chancery court judge in the 32nd Judicial District, which includes Hickman, Lewis and Perry counties. The vacancy was created following the retirement of the Honorable Michael E.…
April 17, 2025
Nashville, Tenn - The Tennessee Supreme Court and the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) appreciate the Tennessee General Assembly’s approval of the amended budget yesterday, which includes $13 million in recurring funding and $4 million in non-recurring startup funds for the AOC’s…
April 17, 2025
Court of Criminal Appeals, Middle Section, Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer is celebrating 25 years on the bench.“It’s been a great honor and privilege to serve in the Tennessee judiciary, and I cannot believe these years have gone by so quickly,” said Judge Wedemeyer. “It’s been a great honor to serve…
April 15, 2025
April 15, 2025, marked the centennial of Governor Austin Peay’s signing of the act creating the Court of Appeals. This milestone offers the opportunity to look back at the origins of the Court and to recognize some of the notable jurists who have served on it.The Court of Appeals came…
April 3, 2025
Tennessee State Trooper Tara Lee joined the Capitol Protection Unit in 2016, working various posts to learn the functions and requirements of each one. One of those posts was at the Tennessee Supreme Court, and it wasn’t long before court staff realized she was someone special.“I was told by my…
April 1, 2025
Nashville, Tenn. - The Tennessee Supreme Court has two cases set for its April 9, 2025, docket in Jackson, Tennessee. The two cases are related actions involving similar legal issues. The cases will be heard at the Tennessee Supreme Court building in Jackson, beginning at 9:00 a.m. CST…
March 26, 2025
Nashville, Tenn. – In a case filed in Hamilton County, the Tennessee Supreme Court today held that Tennessee law does not prohibit a private employer from firing an employee for exercising the right to petition the government granted under the Tennessee Constitution.The case began in 2021, during…
March 24, 2025
Judge Steven W. Sword was confirmed to the Court of Criminal Appeals, Eastern Division, by the General Assembly today. He was appointed to the intermediate appellate court by Governor Bill Lee on Feb. 28, 2025, after a recommendation from the Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments. Judge…
March 24, 2025
Judge Valerie L. Smith was confirmed to the Court of Appeals, Western Division, by the General Assembly today. She was appointed to the intermediate court by Governor Bill Lee on Feb. 28, 2025, at the recommendation of the Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments. Judge Smith fills the vacancy…