M. Keith Siskin, presiding judge of the 16th Judicial District (Rutherford and Cannon Counties) has been nominated by the Director of the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts for the prestigious national Sandra Day O’Connor Award for the Advancement of Civics Education.
The Sandra Day O’Connor Award is presented annually by the National Center for State Courts to an organization, Court, or individual who has promoted, inspired, improved, or led an innovation or accomplishment in the field of civics education relating to the justice system. Candidates are nominated by members of the Conference of Chief Justices, the Conference of State Court Administrators, and members of the Board of the National Center for State Courts.
Deborah Taylor Tate, Director of the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts, stated that she decided to nominate Judge Siskin for this award after a recent visit to the Rutherford County Judicial Building, when she noticed a large video screen hanging on the wall outside of Judge Siskin’s courtroom. This video screen is used by Judge Siskin to display dockets, Court rules, information about the Court and its staff, and general information about the Court system and its history. Judge Siskin has made a special effort to impart this information in an entertaining way, wherever possible. For example, one of the daily staples is a “slide” about “This Day in Legal History,” in which Judge Siskin briefly explains a historical event of legal significance that occurred on that particular date.
“I am honored and flattered to be nominated for this prestigious award,” Siskin said. “Since taking office, my top priority has been to make the court system more open and accessible to the public; hopefully, the information that we display on our video screen furthers that goal.”
Judge Siskin resides in Murfreesboro with his wife, Sheri, and their daughters, Micah and Shae.
