Outgoing Tennessee Judicial Conference President Judge Don Elledge has announced the results of the conference’s election of new officers, who will take their positions on June 19.
Twenty-Sixth Judicial District Circuit Court Judge Roy B. Morgan, Jr., will succeed Judge Elledge as president of the conference. Judge Morgan was first elected to his position on the 26th Judicial District Circuit Court in 1998. He was reelected in 2006 and 2014. Prior to that Judge Morgan served on the Madison County General Sessions Court for eight years. He is a graduate of the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law.
Moving into the role of president-elect of the TJC is 14th Judicial District Circuit Court Judge L. Craig Johnson. He has been on the 14th Judicial District Circuit Court since his election in 1998. Judge Johnson received his law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law. Judge Johnson also serves as the Commanding General of the Tennessee State Guard.
The TJC’s new vice-president is 25th Judicial District Circuit Court Judge J. Weber McCraw. Judge McCraw was appointed to his position on the 25th Judicial District Circuit Court in 2005 by Governor Phil Bredesen. He was subsequently elected to that position in 2006 and 2014. Judge McCraw earned his juris doctor from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law.
Eleventh Judicial District Chancellor Pamela A. Fleenor will be serving as the TJC’s new moving vice-president. Chancellor Fleenor was elected to her position on the 11th Judicial District Chancery Court in 2014. She received her law degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Law.
Thirtieth Judicial District Circuit Court Judge Mary Wagner will become the TJC’s new secretary. Judge Wagner has served on the bench since her appointment by Governor Bill Haslam in 2016. She was elected to that position in 2018. She is a graduate of the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law.
Twenty-Fourth Judicial District Circuit Court Judge Donald E. Parish will take over as treasurer of the TJC. Judge Parish was elected to the bench in 2006 and was re-elected in 2014. He earned his law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law.
In addition, incoming President Judge Morgan made several appointments.
By appointment, this year’s convention co-chairs are 30th Judicial District Circuit Court Judge Valerie L. Smith and 30th Judicial District Criminal Court Judge J. Robert Carter, Jr.
The new hospitality co-chairs for the TJC are 17th Judicial District Circuit Court Judge M. Wyatt Burk and 12th Judicial District Circuit Court Judge Justin C. Angel.
Judge Morgan also appointed new members to the TJC Executive Committee: 11th Judicial District Criminal Court Judge Barry A. Steelman, Eastern Section; 19th Judicial District Circuit Court Judge Jill Bartee Ayers, Middle Section; and 30th Judicial District Criminal Court Judge Jennifer Johnson Mitchell, Western Section.
“It has been a pleasure to serve during this historic time,” Judge Elledge said in the letter announcing the new officers. “I think everyone who has been elected and appointed will do an absolutely wonderful job in their positions and for the benefit of the Tennessee Judicial Conference, and I wish them the best of luck.”