News
April 12, 2011
Nashville, Tenn. – The Judicial Nominating Commission is now accepting applications for the vacancy on the Court of Criminal Appeals created by the impending retirement of Judge David H. Welles.Interested applicants must be licensed attorneys who are at least 30 years of age, a resident of the…
April 12, 2011
Nashville, Tenn. – Court of Criminal Appeals Judge David H. Welles announced his retirement last week after serving 17 years on the intermediate appellate court. His retirement will take effect on June 30.Much of Welles’ career has been dedicated to public service – working in each of the three…
April 7, 2011
The Judicial Ethics Committee released an ethics opinion recently regarding whether a judge who is part of a drug court team can preside over a revocation/sentencing hearing of a defendant in the drug court program.Click here to read the opinion.
April 11, 2011
The Tennessee Supreme Court today ruled that expert testimony may be considered when determining whether a person facing the death penalty is intellectually disabled. Under Tennessee law, persons with intellectual disability (formerly referred to as “mental retardation”) cannot be executed.In the…
April 4, 2011
Eight Knoxville attorneys have applied to fill the judicial vacancy in the 6th Judicial District Criminal Court created by the retirement of Judge Richard Baumgartner.The Judicial Nominating Commission will hold a public meeting on Tuesday, April 26, to interview the following candidates:Charles…
April 5, 2011
Juvenile Courts across Tennessee worked to raise awareness for child abuse prevention efforts by participating in Prevent Child Abuse Tennessee’s Wear Blue Day on April 1, 2011 to kick-off Child Abuse Prevention Month.A number of counties submitted photos of court staff wearing blue. You may view…
March 16, 2011
An official portrait of Chancellor Howell Peoples was unveiled at a reception on Friday at the Hamilton County Courthouse. Chancellor Peoples retired in March 2010 after 32 years of service on the bench.
March 11, 2011
Nashville, Tenn. - The Tennessee Supreme Court filed an order today soliciting public comments to proposed changes to Code of Judicial Conduct, the ethics rules for Tennessee judges.The Tennessee Bar Association (TBA) filed a petition on February 25, 2011, asking the Court to adopt an amended Code…
March 14, 2011
The Judicial Nominating Commission is now accepting applications for the vacancy in the 6th Judicial District Criminal Court created by the retirement of Judge Richard Baumgartner.Interested applicants must be attorneys who are at least 30 years of age, a resident of the state for five years and a…
March 8, 2011
The Judicial Nominating Commission met in Maryville today to review the four applicants for the judicial vacancy in the 5th Judicial District created by the retirement of Judge W. Dale Young.After holding a public hearing and an interview for each applicant, the Judicial Nominating Commission has…
March 14, 2011
Fifteen Tennessee judges, including Chief Justice Cornelia A. Clark, presided over the 31st annual Tennessee State High School Mock Trial Competition this weekend. Judges from across the state joined more than 200 attorneys and volunteers lended their expertise to this weekend’s state competition…
March 2, 2011
By: Lance Coleman, Blount County TodayFriends of retiring Circuit Court Judge Dale W. Young gathered to celebrate a portrait unveiled in his honor in the courtroom where he served for years.The reception, hosted by attorneys of the Blount County Bar, was held Feb. 19 in Young’s former courtroom on…
February 28, 2011
Former Knox County Criminal Court Judge George Peter Balitsaris died Friday at the age of 87.Balitsaris was elected Criminal Court Judge in Knox County in 1976. He served on the bench until his retirement in 1990. Prior to his judgeship, Balitsaris worked in private practice in Knoxville.A…
February 11, 2011
Chief Justice Cornelia A. Clark spoke to reporters today at the Tennessee Press Association luncheon. During her remarks, she discussed the similarities of the judges and journalists as both face shrinking budgets and the demands of keeping up with changing technologies in the digital information…
February 11, 2011
Nashville, Tenn. – Four Maryville attorneys have applied to fill the judicial vacancy in the 5th Judicial District created by the retirement of Judge Dale W. Young.The Judicial Nominating Commission will hold a public meeting on Tuesday, March 8, to interview the following candidates:Steven H. Cook…
January 18, 2011
Judicial Nominating Commission Accepting Applications to Fill VacancyBlount County Circuit Court Judge W. Dale Young announced his retirement Sunday after 26 years of service on the bench.Prior to serving as circuit court judge, Young served as chief of staff to Governor Winfield Dunn and also…
January 25, 2011
Attorneys and Community Leaders Pledge to Increase Pro Bono EffortsNashville , Tenn. - The Tennessee Supreme Court hosted the first ever statewide pro bono summit Friday as part of the Court’s ongoing efforts to improve access to justice in the state. More than 100 of the state’s top attorneys and…
February 4, 2011
Chief Justice Cornelia Clark met with legislative interns last Friday to discuss the importance of the judiciary and how the system works in Tennessee. The day prior to this session, the interns attended oral arguments in front of the Tennessee Supreme Court.At the end of Friday's session, Clark…
February 8, 2011
Nashville, Tenn. - The Tennessee Supreme Court today approved the first retired attorney in the state to take part in the Court’s new pro bono emeritus program. This program allows retired attorneys to provide pro bono legal services through legal assistance organizations that offer free services…
September 21, 1998
The death sentences of two men convicted of killing an elderly couple and a father who sexually assaulted and murdered his 8-year-old daughter were upheld Monday by the Tennessee Supreme Court. The court also reinstated the life sentence handed down for a fatal shooting in Hamilton County.Derrick…