News
August 1, 2011
Now Accepting Public Comments on ApplicantsNashville, Tenn. – The Administrative Office of the Courts has received 33 applications for the vacancy on the Judicial Nominating Commission, the body that reviews and recommends applicants for vacancies on the appellate and state trial courts for…
August 15, 2011
The 2011-2012 Criminal Justice Handbook is now available. The Administrative Office of the Courts will begin shipping pre-ordered handbooks on the week of August 15. Click here to for ordering information.
July 27, 2011
Nashville, Tenn. –The Tennessee Supreme Court today adopted a new Rule that allows the high court to make certain court forms universally accepted in courts across Tennessee. The Court also filed a second order today approving eight plain-language forms that can be used in uncontested divorces…
July 26, 2011
A ceremony was held Friday to commemorate the adoption of a Senate Resolution honoring the life of Ross Alderman, former Nashville Public Defender and late husband of Court of Appeals Judge Patricia Cottrell.The resolution acknowledged Alderman’s longstanding service to the Tennessee legal…
July 20, 2011
FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE:NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today announced his appointment of Steven Sword as Knox County Criminal Court judge. The vacancy was created by the resignation of Judge Richard Baumgartner in March.“Steve has served the citizens of Knox County well for more than 15…
July 19, 2011
Nashville, Tenn. – The Tennessee Supreme Court today filed an Order soliciting comments on a proposed Supreme Court Rule that would exempt federal judges and federal officials who are prohibited by federal law from practicing law from paying an annual registration fee to maintain their attorney…
July 15, 2011
Nashville, Tenn. – The Administrative Office of the Courts is now accepting applications for a seat on the Judicial Nominating Commission, the body that reviews and recommends applicants for vacancies on the appellate and state trial courts for the governor’s consideration.The vacancy on the…
July 15, 2011
Earlier this week, the Tennessee Supreme Court adopted an amended version of Supreme Court Rule 40A, which deals with the appointment of Guardians ad Litem in child custody proceedings. The amended Rule will take effect on September 1, 2011.…
June 29, 2011
Circuit Court Judge John J. Maddux, Jr. was awarded the Justice Frank F. Drowota III award for Outstanding Judicial Service during the Tennessee Bar Association's annual convention in Chattanooga earlier this month.The Outstanding Judicial Service award was established to recognize a judge or a…
June 28, 2011
Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Sharon G. Lee presented the Tennessee Justice Center's Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Award and Pro Bono Firm of the Year Award at a reception on June 17 at Legal Aid of East Tennessee in Chattanooga. Jeffrey C. Smith, partner in charge of the Memphis office of…
June 23, 2011
Nashville, Tenn. – Criminal Court Judge James C. Beasley Jr. of Memphis has been elected president of the 183-member Tennessee Judicial Conference (TJC), which includes all state appellate and trial court judges. Beasley succeeds Chancellor Skip Frierson, who serves 3rd Judicial District.“I’m truly…
June 21, 2011
More than 170 trial and appellate judges from across the state gathered in Chattanooga last week for the annual Tennessee Judicial Conference. The conference included continuing legal education on a wide range of topics such as workers’ compensation, judicial ethics and access to justice.The…
June 10, 2011
The Tennessee Supreme Court today upheld the Court of the Judiciary’s decision that Cocke County General Sessions Court Judge John A. Bell violated the Code of Judicial Conduct for taking too long to decide a personal injury case and…
June 6, 2011
Nashville, Tenn. – The Judicial Nominating Commission met in Nashville today to interview the ten applicants for the vacancy on the Court of Criminal Appeals created by the impending retirement of Judge David H. Welles.After holding a public hearing and an interview for each applicant, the Judicial…
June 7, 2011
The Court of the Judiciary today issued a public reprimand to Hawkins County Juvenile Court Judge James Taylor.The reprimand comes as a result of Judge Taylor making "an appearance before the County Commission of Hawkins County,…
June 3, 2011
The Tennnessee Supreme Court heard oral arguments at Tennessee Girls State on Thursday as part of the Court's SCALES program, which stands for Supreme Court Advancing Legal Education for Students.This was the first time the Court brought the SCALES program to Girls State, which was held at Lipscomb…
June 1, 2011
Tammy Harrington, the newly appointed circuit court judge in the 5th Judicial District, will be sworn in by Gov. Bill Haslam at a formal investiture ceremony at 9 a.m. on June 3 at the Blount County Justice Center in Maryville, Tenn. The public is invited to attend.The governor appointed Harrington…
June 1, 2011
Nashville, Tenn. – The Administrative Office of the Courts has received 43 applications for the five seats on the Judicial Nominating Commission that are set to expire on June 30, 2011. The Judicial Nominating Commission is the body that reviews and recommends applicants for vacancies on the…
May 31, 2011
Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Sharon Lee, a graduate of the University of Tennessee School of Law, was profiled in the most recent edition of Tennessee Alumnus magazine.Titled "Small Town to High Court", the article talks about Lee's…
May 31, 2011
Retired General Sessions Judge Danny Ray Bradley died Thursday, May 26, 2011, at his home in Waverly, Tenn. He was 62.Judge Bradley was a retired Lt. Col. in the Tennessee Army National Guard and was activated for Desert Storm.To read more about Judge Bradley, you can…