The Tennessee Supreme Court today upheld partial consecutive sentencing that was imposed by a trial court after it had found that a defendant’s record of criminal activity was extensive. In upholding the sentence, the Court clarified the principles for determining whether an offender has an…
The Rutherford & Cannon County Bar Association held a portrait unveiling on December 6 for long-time Rutherford County General Sessions Judge David Loughry. Judge Loughry served the county for 24 years, from 1990-2014.
Several of Judge Loughry’s colleagues attended the ceremony to share in his…
The Tennessee Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in two cases at East Tennessee State University on Tuesday, December 6, 2022 as part of its SCALES program. SCALES stands for the Supreme Court Advancing Legal Education for Students. This nationally acclaimed program, over 20 years in…
The Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments is now accepting applications for the Supreme Court vacancy that will be created by the retirement of the Honorable Sharon G. Lee, effective August 31, 2023.Any interested applicant must be a licensed attorney who is at least 35 years of age, a…
Today, the Tennessee Supreme Court answered a question of law certified by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee: whether two video streaming services—Netflix, Inc. and Hulu, LLC—provide “video service” within the meaning of the Competitive Cable and Video Services…
Today, the Tennessee Supreme Court affirmed and increased the suspension of McMinn County attorney Joseph H. Crabtree, Jr. from the practice of law in the state.After reviewing disciplinary proceedings filed against Mr. Crabtree, the Supreme Court concluded that the original suspension imposed by a…
The Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments met today to consider nine applicants for the Court of Criminal Appeals vacancy in the Western Section. After holding a public hearing and conducting public interviews, the Council selected the following applicants:…
The Tennessee Supreme Court has ruled that Tennessee’s mandatory sentence of life in prison when imposed on a juvenile homicide offender is cruel and unusual punishment and violates the juvenile’s rights as guaranteed by the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution. In a narrow ruling,…
Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Sharon G. Lee has notified Governor Bill Lee that she will retire on August 31, 2023.
“Serving in the Tennessee Judiciary for the past 19 years has been the greatest honor of my professional life,” Justice Lee said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to serve…
The Tennessee Court of Appeals will visit the campus of the University of Tennessee at Martin this week to hold oral arguments in front of a live audience of students and guests.“Bringing the courtroom to the students is a wonderful way to involve them in the judicial process,” said Judge Steven…
Rob Pharris joined the Army on Nov. 4, 1987 as a member of the Airborne Division. While in service, he experienced back and knee pain.
“I didn’t dare go to the medics and tell them I have knee problems because they might not let me be airborne,” said Rob Pharris, Veterans Treatment Court Graduate…
The Tennessee Supreme Court has four cases set for its November 9, 2022 docket. The cases will be heard in Jackson, Tennessee, beginning at 9 a.m. CST and will be livesteamed to the TNCourts YouTube page – https://www.youtube.com/user/TNCourts/featuredThe details of the case are as follows:Paul…
The Tennessee Supreme Court has amended the Rule for Mandatory Continuing Legal Education to remove limitations on distance-learning continuing legal education (“CLE”) credits. The Order was filed and effective on November 1, 2022.The change to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 21 deletes the previous…
At the request of the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals, the Tennessee Judicial Conference Foundation (TJCF) established a scholarship in honor of the late Court of Criminal Appeals Presiding Judge John Everett Williams. Judge Williams passed away on September 2, 2022 at the age of 68. He served…
Under a grant that promotes building strong families through parental involvement, the Nashville Predators provided 48 bicycles and tricycles for children of the 23rd Judicial District Recovery Court participants. The bikes are a great tool for enriching the parenting skills of the participants, as…
The Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments will consider nine applicants for the Court of Criminal Appeals – Western Section vacancy created by the passing of the Honorable John Everett Williams on September 2, 2022.The applicants are: …
As a small child growing up in a fairly impoverished neighborhood in Memphis, Deborah Means Henderson had a startling answer to the question of what she wanted to be when she grew up. “I would tell the grown-ups that I was going to be a lawyer,” Judge Henderson said. She did not know any…
The Trial Court Vacancy Commission met today to consider four candidates for a circuit court vacancy in the 20th Judicial District, which covers Davidson County. This vacancy was created by the passing of the Honorable Philip E. Smith on September 4, 2022.After holding a public hearing and…
The Clothesline Project allows survivors of domestic violence to creatively express their thoughts and feelings onto a T-shirt. The T-shirts are then hung on a clothesline to bring awareness to the prevalence of domestic violence. On October 3, The Clothesline Project came to Henry County, Tenn.
“…