Two juvenile court judges have been recognized by the Tennessee Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges for their exceptional service in advancing juvenile justice.
Henry County Judge Vicki Snyder and Madison County Judge Christy R. Little were presented the McCain-Abernathy Memorial Award at the annual conference of the Tennessee Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (TCJFCJ) in Memphis this week. Both judges serve general sessions courts with juvenile jurisdiction.
The McCain-Abernathy Memorial Award has been presented every year since 1985 to a Tennessee judge or judges with juvenile jurisdiction who have demonstrated outstanding service dedicated to the improvement of juvenile justice in Tennessee for the benefit of the children and families served by the state’s courts.
Judge Little is a graduate of Lambuth University and Cecil C. Humphrey’s School of Law. She practiced law in Jackson from 1988 to 1998, when she was elected as general sessions judge in Madison County. Her duties include all juvenile matters, probate and small claims civil matters.
Judge Little is past president of the General Sessions Judges Conference, serves on the executive committee of the juvenile court judges, and is a member of the Board of Judicial Conduct. In addition, she is the west Tennessee coordinator for the Three Branches Institute. She is also a board member for the University of Memphis School of Law.
Judge Snyder was elected in 2006. She is a graduate of Henry County High School, the University of Tennessee at Martin (with honors) and earned her Juris Doctorate degree from The University of Memphis School of Law in 1985. Prior to her election to the bench, Judge Snyder clerked for the Shelby County criminal court judges, was engaged in the private practice of law, served as assistant district attorney general and assistant public defender for the 24th Judicial District.
Judge Snyder serves on several boards and commissions, including the Tennessee Supreme Court Indigent Representation Task Force and the Domestic Violence Council. She also is a member of the Tennessee Bar Association, Henry County Bar Association, and the American Bar Association.
The award was named in memory of Judge Elizabeth McCain of Shelby County, who was active in the council and served voluntarily as executive secretary of TCJFC for a number of years. In 1991, the membership voted to add Judge Jerome Abernathy’s name to the award. Judge Abernathy, of Giles County, served as president to the Council in 1989-90.
