News
November 21, 2017
The Supreme Court of Tennessee clarified the law of self-defense when the person making the claim is engaged in unlawful activity at the time the need for self-defense occurred. This clarification is important because some trial courts have not allowed defendants to assert self-defense when it…
November 21, 2017
Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam today appointed Barry Ross Tidwell of Murfreesboro as Circuit Court Judge in the 16th Judicial District, which includes Rutherford and Cannon counties.Tidwell’s appointment follows the death of Judge M. Keith Siskin in July.Tidwell, 47, has served as Rutherford County…
November 21, 2017
Home inspections are a standard part of the buying process throughout the state, and, in a recent case, the Tennessee Supreme Court determined whether a home inspector’s liability extends to a social guest of the homeowner who was injured when a railing collapsed shortly after purchase.In 2010,…
November 20, 2017
Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam today appointed Angelita Blackshear Dalton of Nashville as Criminal Court Judge for the 20th Judicial District, replacing retiring Judge J. Randall Wyatt.Dalton, 46, has served as Davidson County General Sessions Court Judge for Division III since 2006. In that role…
November 20, 2017
The Tennessee Supreme Court has affirmed the convictions and sentences of death for Sedrick Clayton for the murders of Arithio, Patricia, and Pashea Fisher and the conviction for attempted murder of A’Reco Fisher in Memphis. During the early morning hours of January 19, 2012, a domestic dispute…
November 17, 2017
In a case closely watched by Tennessee lawyers, the Tennessee Supreme Court has declined to change the law on what evidence can be used to prove medical expenses in cases involving personal injury. The Court held that Tennessee law continues to allow plaintiffs to use full, undiscounted medical…
November 16, 2017
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The 58th Annual Tennessee General Sessions Judges Conference was held this fall in Jackson, Tennessee. Judges from across the state gathered together to hear valuable educational sessions such as Criminal Law Updates and Court Room Security. In addition, a judge was recognized with the…
November 14, 2017
Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam today appointed Brooklynn M. Townsend as special judge for the General Sessions Court of Polk County.Townsend’s appointment fills a temporary vacancy due to the disability of Judge Billy D. Baliles.“I appreciate Brooklynn Townsend’s willingness to serve in this…
November 9, 2017
The Tennessee Board of Law Examiners has filed a petition with the Supreme Court of Tennessee to adopt the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE), which would be a major change in the portability of bar exam results for aspiring Tennessee attorneys. The UBE is a nationwide test that has been adopted by 28…
November 9, 2017
In a case involving questions about jury deliberations that continued into the early morning hours, the Tennessee Supreme Court determined that the defense did not adequately object to the late-night session to appeal and that the issue cannot be reviewed under the plain error doctrine. The Court…
November 8, 2017
Lawyers across the Volunteer State donated more than $118 million worth of free pro bono legal services to Tennesseans in 2015, according to an annual report issued by the Tennessee Supreme Court’s Access to Justice Commission. In total, 591,064 hours of service were performed by 8,122 attorneys…
November 7, 2017
The Tennessee Supreme Court will hear three cases on November 8, 2017, in Jackson, TN. The details of the cases are as follows: Wednesday, November 8, 2017Drayton Beecher Smith II v. Board of Professional Responsibility - This matter is an appeal of a proceeding in which an attorney sought…
November 6, 2017
The Trial Court Vacancy Commission met November 6, 2017 in Memphis to consider four applicants for the Criminal Court vacancy in the 30th Judicial District – Shelby County. The vacancy was created by The Honorable James C. Beasley, Jr. who informed the Governor that he will retire effective…
November 3, 2017
The Supreme Court of Tennessee reversed and remanded for a new sentencing hearing a fatal driving under the influence case from Claiborne County involving the defendant’s overuse of prescription pain medication. The trial court sentenced the defendant to eight years in prison, but the Court of…
October 30, 2017
Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam appointed Carter S. Moore of Cosby as Circuit Court Judge for the 4th Judicial District, which serves Cocke, Grainger, Jefferson and Sevier counties.Moore replaces retiring Judge Ben W. Hooper II. Moore, 35, has been self-employed as an attorney in Cocke County since…
October 25, 2017
The Tennessee Supreme Court recently recognized attorneys and law students who performed over 50 hours of pro bono service in the previous calendar year as 2017 Attorneys for Justice. The ceremony was held in front of family and friends at Belmont University College of Law in Nashville.Supreme…
October 20, 2017
In a case where a tractor-trailer, rear-end collision in Memphis resulted in a multi-million dollar jury verdict, the Tennessee Supreme Court upheld most of the trial court’s legal rulings, but it clarified when and how both trial and appeals courts can reduce jury verdicts. Plaintiff Donriel Borne…
October 20, 2017
In a Hamblen County case involving a trust for a severely disabled child, the Tennessee Supreme Court held that Tennessee law authorized the trustee to sign an agreement requiring the trust to “arbitrate” claims against the broker who managed the trust funds. Arbitration is a process where parties…
October 18, 2017
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today appointed James L. Gass of Dandridge as special judge for Circuit Court in the 4th Judicial District.Gass’s appointment fills the temporary vacancy due to the recent illness of Circuit Court Judge Richard R. Vance. The 4th Judicial District serves Jefferson,…
October 18, 2017
The Supreme Court of Tennessee’s Access to Justice (ATJ) program recently joined forces with Legal Aid of East Tennessee (LAET) to honor attorneys who earned the Court’s prestigious “Attorney for Justice” recognition in…