News
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…
March 11, 2025
Nashville, Tenn. – The Trial Court Vacancy Commission met in Chattanooga to select nominees for a circuit court judge in the 11th Judicial District, which covers Hamilton County.After holding a public hearing and conducting public interviews, the Commission selected the following nominees to…
March 10, 2025
The Tennessee Supreme Court today upheld the suspension of a Shelby County attorney’s law license for violating the ethics rules for lawyers. The lawyer, Daryl A. Gray, was the subject of two complaints to the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility, which enforces the ethics rules for…
March 7, 2025
The Tennessee Supreme Court held today in Robin M. McNabb v. Gregory H. Harrison, that Tennessee’s Constitution requires municipal judges to reside in the city where they will be assigned. Here, the candidate elected as Lenoir City Municipal Judge did not satisfy the constitutional residency…
March 6, 2025
Nashville, Tenn. – Today, the Tennessee Supreme Court issued an opinion in State v. William Rimmel III affirming Rimmel’s conviction for attempted aggravated assault but reversing his conviction for reckless endangerment with a handgun.Rimmel’s convictions arose from a 2018 road-rage incident on I-…
March 3, 2025
Governor Bill Lee announced two judicial appointments on Feb. 28, 2025.Judge Steven W. Sword was appointed to the Court of Criminal Appeals, Eastern Division, and Judge Valerie L. Smith was appointed to the Court of Appeals, Western Division.Judge Sword currently serves as a Criminal Court Judge…
February 26, 2025
Nashville, Tenn. - Today, the Tennessee Supreme Court issued an opinion in Leah Gilliam v. David Gerregano, Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Revenue et al.,…
February 14, 2025
The Tennessee Supreme Court heard held court proceedings inside the Old Supreme Court Chamber at the Tennessee State Capitol for the first time in more than ten years February 12, 2025.“This is an historic occasion, a homecoming of sorts for our court,” said Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice…