News
August 20, 2008
Justice Janice M. Holder, the third woman in the state's history to serve on the Supreme Court of Tennessee, will become the first woman ever to serve as its chief justice when she is sworn into office at 2 p.m. Sept. 2 at the Supreme Court Building in Nashville."I am grateful to my colleagues on…
September 17, 2008
Circuit Court Judge Don Ash of the 16th Judicial District has been elected to a second term as presiding judge of the Tennessee Court of the Judiciary. The 15-member panel receives complaints against judges and imposes sanctions for violations of the Code of Judicial Conduct.Tennessee Supreme Court…
September 26, 2008
Students from 16 Davidson County public and private schools will hear oral arguments in three state Supreme Court cases Thursday, Oct. 2, as participants in a program designed to educate young Tennesseans about the judicial system.The 450 high school students and their teachers will attend a…
September 29, 2008
Nashville - Governor Bredesen today appointed Sharon Gail Lee of Madisonville to the Tennessee Supreme Court. Lee, who has served on the Tennessee Court of Appeals since 2004, fills a vacancy created by the recent retirement of Justice William M. "Mickey" Barker."Sharon has served with distinction…
October 15, 2008
Nashville- Governor Phil Bredesen has appointed Amy V. Hollars of Livingston, Tenn., to serve as special circuit court judge for the Thirteenth Judicial District effective immediately. The Thirteenth Judicial District includes Clay, Cumberland, DeKalb, Overton, Pickett, Putnam and White Counties.…
October 22, 2008
Former United States Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor will be the featured speaker October 27 at the Tennessee Supreme Court Historical Society's annual dinner.The event, beginning at 7 p.m. at the Nashville Downtown Hilton, will honor Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Janice M. Holder…
November 7, 2008
The Tennessee Supreme Court has upheld the death and prison sentences imposed on Devin Banks of Memphis for killing a friend and severely wounding a second man who was left for dead in the driveway of his home during a robbery.Banks was convicted of premeditated murder, murder during the…
November 10, 2008
James G. Martin III appointed to fill position in Tennessee’s 21st Judicial DistrictNASHVILLE – Governor Phil Bredesen has appointed James G. Martin of Franklin, Tenn., to fill the vacancy on the Tennessee Circuit Court, 21st Judicial District, Division II. The 21st Judicial District is composed of…
November 13, 2008
The normally staid look and feel of the Chancery Courtroom in Hamblen County will turn festive Saturday, Nov. 15, with the addition of balloons, cookies and toys for a special Adoption Day ceremony creating new families for three children and four parents.The adoption of a baby boy from Russia by…
December 8, 2008
December 5, 2008Remarks by Chief Justice Janice M. Holder Supreme Court of TennesseeAs many of you already know, the Supreme Court of Tennessee has designated access to justice as a strategic priority this year and in the years to come. On behalf of the Supreme Court, I thank you for joining us…
February 17, 2009
The Tennessee Supreme Court has adopted a provisional rule for the appointment of guardians ad litem (GAL) in cases involving the custody of children, whether or not those cases involve a divorce. A guardian ad litem is a person appointed to represent the interests of a child or an adult with…
March 11, 2009
From the desk of Governor Bredesen, March 11, 2009 NASHVILLE – Governor Phil Bredesen has appointed David E. Durham of Lebanon, Tenn., as criminal court judge in the 15th Judicial District. The vacancy was created by the death of Judge J.O. Bond in December. The 15th Judicial District is…
March 13, 2009
Oath of Office to be Administered by Governor Phil BredesenGovernor Phil Bredesen will administer the oath of office to Justice Sharon G. Lee in a formal investiture ceremony on Friday, March 20, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. in the Supreme Court courtroom in Knoxville. This ceremony is open to everyone.…
March 23, 2009
Governor Phil Bredesen recently named attorney Philip Smith to the Bench of the Circuit Court for the 20th Judicial District in Tennessee, comprising Davidson County. Governor Bredesen will perform the swearing-in ceremony on Monday, March 30th at 2:30 p.m. in the Old Supreme Court Chambers at the…
April 1, 2009
On Friday, April 3, 2009, the Tennessee Supreme Court will adopt three amendments to the rules governing the practice of law that will encourage more lawyers to volunteer to provide pro bono legal services to Tennesseans who need legal assistance but cannot afford it. These new rules are in…
April 3, 2009
The Tennessee Supreme Court today announced the creation of a new statewide Access to Justice Commission to help address the growing civil legal needs crisis in Tennessee. The ten-member Commission is chaired by Margaret Behm, a Nashville lawyer with Dodson Parker Behm & Caparella, PC who has…
April 7, 2009
Lorrie K. Ridder To Fill Vacancy In The 30th Judicial DistrictNASHVILLE - Governor Phil Bredesen today appointed Lorrie Ridder of Memphis, Tenn., to the Tennessee Circuit Court for the 30th Judicial District, Division IV. Ridder will fill a vacancy created by the death of Judge Rita Stotts in…
April 9, 2009
Judge John A. Turnbull has announced his resignation, effective June 15, 2009, as Circuit Court Judge in the 13th Judicial District (Clay, Cumberland, Dekalb, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, and White counties). Judge Turnbull was first appointed to the bench in August of 1989. He received his legal…
May 4, 2009
NASHVILLE - The Administrative Office of the Courts is pleased to announce the addition of Laura Click as public information officer for the Tennessee Court System. Click comes to the AOC from the Department of Finance and Administration where she served as the communications director for Project…
May 13, 2009
Nashville, Tenn. - The Tennessee Supreme Court has upheld the death sentence of Marlon Duane Kiser for the first degree premeditated murder of Hamilton County Deputy Sheriff Donald Bond. Kiser shot Deputy Bond several times with a high-powered assault rifle when Bond interrupted Kiser’s arson…