News
January 18, 2019
Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam has appointed members to the Governor’s Juvenile Justice Reform Implementation Council. During the prior legislative session, Haslam proposed, and the Tennessee General Assembly passed, reforms to the state’s juvenile justice system based on recommendations from the…
January 17, 2019
Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam has appointed Patricia Head Moskal of Nashville as Chancellor of the Chancery Court for the 20th Judicial District, which serves Davidson County. Moskal replaces Chancellor Claudia Bonnyman, who retired earlier this month. Moskal, 64, has practiced law in Davidson…
January 18, 2019
In a case closely watched by Tennessee’s business community, the Tennessee Supreme Court has held that trial courts cannot use evidence outside of the written agreement—called “extrinsic” evidence—to interpret a contract if that evidence is used to contradict the contract’s written terms.Beginning…
January 17, 2019
Davidson County Chancellor Claudia C. Bonnyman was celebrated for her many years of public service by colleagues, friends, and family at a retirement reception held Tuesday at the Metropolitan Courthouse in Nashville.Chancellor Bonnyman served on the Davidson County Chancery Court for 15 years;…
January 15, 2019
When Tennessee’s newest federal judge, Mark Norris, took the public oath of office to sit as a trial judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, his state judicial colleagues were there to show their support. Before taking the bench, Judge Norris served in the…
January 8, 2019
The Tennessee Supreme Court will hear three cases on January 9, 2019. The details of the cases are as follows: Wednesday, January 9, 2019Estate of Ella Mae Haire, et al. v. Shelby J. Webster, et al-This case examines the nature of a joint tenant with right of survivorship bank account (“JTROS…
January 8, 2019
Tennessee Governor-elect Bill Lee announced his appointment of Judge Brandon Gibson to serve as a Senior Advisor in the Office of the Governor, a cabinet-level position.“Brandon is a principled conservative with deep rural roots in our state,” said Lee. “She is widely respected for her service on…
January 7, 2019
In a divided opinion, the Tennessee Supreme Court has reversed and dismissed the conviction of a Davidson County man for attempted especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor—“attempted child sexual exploitation”—in a case in which he secretly videotaped a 13-year-old female relative while…
January 4, 2019
The Knoxville Bar Association bestowed awards on two East Tennessee judges at its recent annual meeting. Sixth Judicial District Circuit Court Judge Deborah C. Stevens was given the Presidents’ Award in recognition of her longtime service on the KBA’s Diversity in Profession Committee, while…
January 3, 2019
Students from Coffee County Middle School got in the holiday spirit recently by hosting a toy drive to benefit participants in the Coffee County Safe Baby Court. That court focuses on the well-being of children from birth to three years old.You can read the full story from…
December 20, 2018
The Tennessee Supreme Court has revised the factors for courts to consider when deciding the enforceability of a release of liability signed by someone before participating in an activity or obtaining a service.
In Tennessee, parties may enter into agreements, often referred to as exculpatory…
December 19, 2018
A panel of state and federal judges discussed the career and legacy of United States Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg at a recent CLE organized by the Nashville Bar Association in partnership with the Lawyers’ Association for Women.The discussion, held at the Butler Snow law firm in…
December 17, 2018
Two judges who have been leaders in the struggle to rescue lives and communities affected by substance abuse were among the honorees at the Tennessee Association of Recovery Court Professionals’ 14th Annual Recovery Court Conference, held recently in Murfreesboro. Eighth Judicial District Criminal…
December 11, 2018
The Tennessee Supreme Court affirmed the trial court’s revocation of judicial diversion for Westley A. Albright, who entered a no contest guilty plea to one count of solicitation of a minor, for which he was placed on judicial diversion and received a one-year probationary term. As a condition of…
December 10, 2018
The Tennessee Supreme Court today held that a defendant who pleads guilty is not required to present proof of post-sentencing changed circumstances to prevail on a motion for reduction of sentence under Rule 35 of the Tennessee Rules of Criminal Procedure, if the guilty plea did not include an…
December 6, 2018
In a case involving first-degree murder committed by a juvenile, the Tennessee Supreme Court has clarified that a defendant convicted of first-degree murder committed on or after July 1, 1995, and sentenced to life in prison becomes eligible for release after serving a minimum of 51 years in prison…
December 5, 2018
Sixth Judicial District Criminal Court Judge Steven W. Sword was recently appointed to the Board of Trustees at his alma mater, King University.Judge Sword graduated magna cum laude from King in 1992 with a bachelor’s degree in History. He is looking forward to his new role at the school, whose…
December 4, 2018
The Tennessee Supreme Court has upheld the decision of the Knox County Chancery Court that attorney Thomas F. Mabry has not proven that he lacked the capacity, by reason of mental illness, to respond to or defend against a disciplinary complaint filed against him.The Tennessee Supreme Court, as…
December 4, 2018
The Trial Vacancy Commission met today, Tuesday, December 4, 2018, to consider six candidates for the 20th Judicial District Chancery Court vacancy.There is an upcoming vacancy in this position due to the retirement of the Honorable Claudia C. Bonnyman, effective January 1, 2019.After holding a…
December 4, 2018
The Tennessee Supreme Court’s Access to Justice Commission has released its annual report detailing the pro bono legal service reported by attorneys, bar associations, law firms, law schools, legal service providers, mediators, and other organizations. Pro bono is a Latin term meaning “for the…