News
April 28, 2000
The number of men convicted in Tennessee last year for committing felony crimes was 14,401, nearly six times greater than the 2,480 felony convictions for women, a new court report shows.Total reported felony convictions statewide rose by 1,809, from 15,072 in 1998 to 16,881 in 1999. Data for the…
July 10, 2000
In a unanimous decision Monday, the Tennessee Supreme Court upheld the death sentence a Madison County jury imposed on Farris Genner Morris, Jr, who confessed to killing two victims and raping a third neighbor after forcing his way into their home.
Morris was convicted of two counts of first degree…
October 27, 2000
Judicial system administrators from nine southeastern states and officials from the National Center for State Courts will be in Nashville Oct. 30-31 for a conference hosted by the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts.Court administrators from Tennessee, Virginia, Texas, Arkansas, Alabama,…
October 27, 2000
Nearly 300 students from nine public and private high schools in the 26th Judicial District will participate Nov. 16 in a state Supreme Court program designed to educate young Tennesseans about the judicial branch of government.Students and their teachers from high schools in Chester, Henderson and…
November 1, 2000
The Tennessee Supreme Court has enacted a rule formalizing the legal process for setting execution dates in capital cases and establishing filing deadlines and other requirements for prosecution and defense lawyers.“Whenever a death-row prisoner has unsuccessfully pursued state post-conviction…
November 28, 2000
Chief Justice Riley Anderson of the Tennessee Supreme Court is part of a Tennessee delegation invited to attend a two-day summit in Chicago to discuss and debate systems used to select judges nationwide. Other Tennesseans attending the conference Dec. 8-9 are state Sen. Joe Haynes, D-…
December 18, 2000
Judges across the state are preparing for the state’s new Parenting Plan requiring divorcing couples with minor children to take part in a program designed to ease the trauma of the family breakup on the youngest members and protect their emotional and financial well-being.Beginning Jan. 1 when the…
December 28, 2000
The state Board of Law Examiners is experiencing two firsts with the appointment by the Tennessee Supreme Court of a woman to serve as a board member and an African-American as its president. The board governs the Tennessee bar examination and the admission of attorneys to practice law in the state…
February 6, 2001
As the presidential election focused a national spotlight on state and federal courts, delegations led by chief justices from 17 states, including Tennessee, were drafting a "Call to Action" dealing with how the judges themselves are elected.Chief Justice Riley Anderson was chosen to represent…
February 15, 2001
The Tennessee court system is taking steps to eliminate communication barriers in legal proceedings involving defendants and others whose primary languages are not English.The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) is providing judges with court forms translated by the Tennessee Foreign Language…
February 22, 2001
New features, more information, easier access and an updated look are among improvements on the Tennessee court system website.“The website is part of our commitment to make court-related information and material as accessible as possible,” said Connie Clark, administrative director of the courts…
March 5, 2001
An oil portrait of Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Joseph B. Jones, who was presiding judge when he died in 1998, will be unveiled at 1 p.m. Wednesday in a ceremony at the Supreme Court Building in Jackson.Jones, of Memphis, was appointed to the appellate court in 1986 by Gov. Lamar…
May 3, 2001
Chief Justice E. Riley Anderson announced Thursday he will step down as chief justice effective Sept.1, but will remain on the Tennessee Supreme Court. The five members of the court, including the chief justice, were re-elected in 1998 to eight-year terms.Anderson, of Knoxville, was elected chief…
May 31, 2001
Nearly 100 print and broadcast reporters and editors from across Tennessee have registered to attend the state’s first Law School for Journalists, co-sponsored by the Tennessee Supreme Court and The Freedom Forum First Amendment Center at Vanderbilt University.“The Freedom Forum is a perfect…
June 26, 2001
Justice Frank F. Drowota, III, of Nashville was elected chief justice Tuesday by the Tennessee Supreme Court, effective Sept. 1. He will succeed Chief Justice E. Riley Anderson of Knoxville, who is stepping down from the position, but will remain on the court.Drowota, elected to the Supreme Court…
July 11, 2001
Jurors in 10 courtrooms across the state are participating in a new Tennessee Supreme Court jury reform pilot project aimed at improving conditions for citizens called to render verdicts in civil and criminal trials.The project, continuing until March 1, 2002, will assess the potential effect of 14…
July 23, 2001
City Court Judge Walter F. Williams of Chattanooga will attend training to enhance the quality of his performance on the bench and also could receive a 30 day suspension from office under terms of an agreement reached Monday with the state Court of the Judiciary."Although the charges against Judge…
August 22, 2001
Nearly 600 Sumner County high school students will participate Oct. 5 in a state Supreme Court program designed to educate young Tennesseans about the judicial branch of government.Students and their teachers from nine schools, along with home-schooled students, will attend a special Supreme Court…
August 31, 2001
Criminal Court Judge J.O. Bond of Lebanon has completed a workshop on scientific evidence and expert testimony conducted at the National Judicial College. The 15th Judicial District judge received a scholarship from the State Justice Institute, a nonprofit organization created by federal law to…
November 29, 2001
For the first time since 1977, the Tennessee Supreme Court has unanimously found a death sentence disproportionate when compared to sentences imposed for similar Tennessee crimes. In a unanimous opinion authored by Chief Justice Frank. F. Drowota, III, and filed Thursday, the court modified the…