Nolensville Municipal Judge James Petersen was honored by the Tennessee Municipal Judges Conference last month with the Sharon G. Lee Award of Excellence for his outstanding service to the Conference.
The municipal judges’ Board of Governors created the award to be presented to a municipal judge who has made a significant contribution to the conference over the course of his service on the bench. James Petersen has been the municipal judge in Nolensville since 1999.
“I was surprised by this award. I know a lot of other judges who deserve it as much or more. The work I do for the Municipal Judges Conference is enjoyable, and hopefully contributes something to our municipal courts in Tennessee,” Judge Petersen said.
Judge Petersen also served as Interim Circuit Judge and Chancellor for the 21st Judicial District from 1974-1975 and was the municipal judge for Franklin from 1976-1986. Judge Petersen has been an active member of the Conference, serving as treasurer for the Board of Governors and regularly teaching at annual seminars. Judge Petersen is a graduate of Rhodes College in Memphis and a graduate of the Vanderbilt University Law School. He lives in Franklin.
The award is named in honor of Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Sharon G. Lee, who once served as the municipal judge in her hometown of Madisonville. at the 10th anniversary of the Tennessee Municipal Judges Conference. Sharon G. Lee was appointed to the Tennessee Supreme Court in 2008 and re-elected in 2010 and 2014. From 2004 to 2008, she served on the Tennessee Court of Appeals. Prior to her appointment to the bench, Justice Lee practiced law in her hometown of Madisonville from 1978 until 2004. She also served as the Madisonville municipal judge from 2002 to 2004.
