News
June 15, 2018
In a unanimous opinion, the Tennessee Supreme Court has ruled that when a party to a divorce case violates a statutory injunction and then dies while the case is pending, a trial court may, after considering the equities of the parties, remedy the violation of the injunction.
Under Tennessee Code…
June 12, 2018
The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) has launched a second round of grants to help make Tennessee’s courthouses safer.
In accordance with Governor Bill Haslam’s budget, the Tennessee General Assembly has appropriated $2 million in funds for court security grants. Last year, similar grants…
June 8, 2018
Nashville, Tenn. – In a case involving dissenting shareholders forced out of a closely held Nashville corporation, the Tennessee Supreme Court has overruled its prior case law and adopted a standard that allows trial courts to use modern methods to determine the “fair value” of the dissenting…
June 8, 2018
The Tennessee Supreme Court has affirmed the suspension of Knoxville attorney Charles Edward Daniel from the practice of law, but modified the probated three-year suspension to include one year of active suspension.
Mr. Daniel made unauthorized deposits of funds from his law partnership into his…
June 6, 2018
The Tennessee Supreme Court has unanimously held that after the expiration of the one-year statute of limitations, a plaintiff cannot amend her health care liability suit to substitute a health care provider to which the plaintiff had not given pre-suit notice as required by state law.
The…
June 6, 2018
Two laws recently passed by the Tennessee General Assembly have given the state’s judges new tools to help protect victims of domestic violence.One law, SB1796/HB2033, targets cell phones. Judges can now order wireless telephone service providers to grant domestic violence victims control over…
June 4, 2018
The nation’s opioid epidemic has impacted every courthouse in the country, and judges have diligently been working together to develop innovative solutions involving diversion programs, placement of children left in foster care, model plans for pregnant defendants, and more. Led by Tennessee’s…
June 1, 2018
The Tennessee Judiciary was well-represented at the 2018 Conference of Chief Justices/Conference of State Court Administrators Southern Region Civil Justice Summit in Little Rock, Arkansas. Chief Justice Jeff Bivins, Justice Holly Kirby, Judge Deborah C. Stevens, Judge Valerie L. Smith and AOC…
May 30, 2018
Lipscomb University will host the Tennessee Supreme Court this week as part of the American Legion Auxiliary’s Volunteer Girls State program, which provides Tennessee’s high school female leaders the opportunity to experience and learn about civic engagement. On Thursday morning, the Tennessee…
May 29, 2018
The Tennessee Supreme Court issued an Order soliciting comments on proposed amendments to Rule 13, which governs appointment, qualifications, and compensation of counsel for indigent defendants. The proposed rule changes are a result of a $9.7 million increase in indigent defense spending passed by…
May 21, 2018
The Tennessee Supreme Court is scheduled to hold oral arguments before an accomplished group of Tennessee’s high school students at American Legion Boys State. 2018 marks the eighteenth year of this memorable tradition, both for the students and the justices.The Court session is just one element…
May 18, 2018
Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Cornelia A. Clark has been named the 2018 recipient of the Tennessee Bar Association’s prestigious Justice Frank F. Drowota III Outstanding Judicial Service Award. The Justice Drowota Award is the TBA’s highest award for service to the judiciary and has been given…
May 16, 2018
Ten years ago, the Tennessee Supreme Court made access to justice its top strategic priority, and over the years one thing has become abundantly clear: improving access to legal services in Tennessee is a collaborative effort. In its first-ever annual report, the Tennessee Supreme Court Access to…
May 15, 2018
The 22-year-old man wanted to find a better job, but like many Tennesseans he had a criminal history that kept him stuck in a rut of unsteady, low-wage positions. To make matters worse, the man owed hefty court fees and costs associated with his past offenses. Under Tennessee law, those debts had…
May 10, 2018
The State Justice Institute (“SJI”) has awarded the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts (“AOC”) a Curriculum Adaptation and Training Grant to work with the National Center for State Courts (“NCSC”) to develop and implement a training curriculum to assist in expanding business court…
May 9, 2018
Two judges who were instrumental in the long fight to desegregate Nashville’s public schools will be honored Friday at the third annual Francis S. Guess Bridge to Equality Fund Luncheon.The luncheon, presented by the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, will recognize State Court of Appeals…
May 4, 2018
The Tennessee Supreme Court has suspended a Rutherford County attorney, James Carl Cope, for an additional 25 months. Mr. Cope was temporarily suspended in October 2016, and he requested that his final suspension be retroactive to the date of his initial suspension. The Court rejected Mr. Cope’s…
May 4, 2018
Kristi Robbins Rezabek, staff attorney for the Tennessee Court of Appeals, passed away on May 4, 2018 at the age of 57. She worked for the Court of Appeals since 2006 and was based in the Jackson Supreme Court Building. She had previously worked as regional general counsel and senior staff attorney…
April 17, 2018
Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts Director Deborah Taylor Tate has been named to a national committee tasked with helping states collaborate across branches and agencies to address the issue of child safety. The Three Branch Institute Advisory Committee will develop a toolkit based on…
April 20, 2018
Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Jeff Bivins recently spoke at a conference devoted to exploring the issue of childhood poverty. The Summit on Children: The Science and Story of Poverty, was held at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center in Greeneville, Tennessee. The Summit, presented by…