The Trial Court Vacancy Commission met today Friday, September 15, 2017, to consider seven applicants for the Circuit Court vacancy in the 16th Judicial District – Rutherford and Cannon Counties. The judicial vacancy was created by the death of the Honorable M. Keith Siskin.After holding a public…
The Trial Court Vacancy Commission met today Thursday, September 14, 2017, to consider seven applicants for the Criminal Court vacancy in the 20th Judicial District – Davidson County. The vacancy was created by The Honorable J. Randall Wyatt, Jr. who informed the Governor he would retire effective…
In 2012, the Tennessee General Assembly adopted the Tennessee Excellence, Accountability, and Management Act of 2012 (“TEAM Act”), which comprehensively addressed the hiring and termination of state employees. The TEAM Act replaced the prior Civil Service Act. The TEAM Act established two…
Barbara Peck was recently named director of communications for the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC). One of Peck’s primary responsibilities is serving as a media spokesperson for the Supreme Court of Tennessee and the AOC. In addition, she will provide communications support to…
The Trial Court Vacancy Commission will consider five applicants when it meets September 29, 2017 in Fayetteville to select nominees for the Circuit Court vacancy in the 17th Judicial District – Bedford, Lincoln, Marshall, and Moore Counties. The vacancy was created when the Honorable Lee Russell…
Just like other emergency responders from Memphis to Mountain City, the Tennessee Supreme Court is announcing a call to action for “emergency legal responders” to lend a hand to those impacted by Hurricane Harvey. As was evident when the wildfires hit Gatlinburg last fall, there is a vital need…
The Tennessee Supreme Court will hear four cases on September 6, 2017, in Knoxville, TN. The first two cases will be heard at the University of Tennessee College of Law. The latter two cases will be heard at the Knoxville Courthouse. The details of the cases are as follows:State v.…
The Tennessee Municipal Judges’ Conference presented the Sharon G. Lee Award of Excellence to Judge Gregory D. Smith of Montgomery County. The award is presented each year to a municipal judge who has made a significant contribution to the Conference over the course of his or her service on the…
The Trial Court Vacancy Commission met today Wednesday, August 30, 2017, to consider nine applicants for the Circuit Court vacancy in the 11th Judicial District – Hamilton County. The vacancy was created by the Honorable W. Neil Thomas III, who announced he will retire effective October 5, 2017.…
The Tennessee Supreme Court has rejected a defendant hospital’s argument that a wrongful death lawsuit filed by a surviving spouse was null and void because the spouse was not represented by a lawyer when the lawsuit was filed. In September 2004, Ruth Hartley was admitted to Trinity…
The Supreme Court has ruled that multiple convictions for sexual offenses arising from a single act of sexual assault should be analyzed under double jeopardy principles. In reaching this conclusion, the Court overruled its prior decision in State v. Barney, 986 S.W.2d 545 (Tenn. 1999), which held…
The Trial Court Vacancy Commission met today (Thursday, August 24, 2017) to consider eight applicants for the Circuit Court vacancy in the 4th Judicial District – Cocke, Grainger, Jefferson, and Sevier Counties. The vacancy was created by the retirement of Judge Ben W. Hooper II.After holding a…
Juvenile court judges, judicial staff, attorneys, and other juvenile justice professionals from across Tennessee spent nearly half their annual conference learning about the state’s opioid crisis and the role of courts and judges.Tommy Farmer, director, Dangerous Drugs Task Force, Tennessee Bureau…
The Trial Court Vacancy Commission will consider seven applicants when it meets September 15, 2017, in Murfreesboro to select nominees for the Circuit Court Judge vacancy in the 16th Judicial District – Rutherford and Cannon Counties. The judicial vacancy was created by the death of the Honorable M…
Source: Columbus Air Force BaseChildren of three World War II prisoners of war gathered during a Base Community Council luncheon Aug. 11 at the Club on Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi; and Justice Sharon Lee, from the Tennessee Supreme Court, shared her father’s story and how it intertwined…
The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) launched a one-time court security grant program effective August 18, 2017. The AOC received $2 million in one-time funds appropriated by the Tennessee General Assembly and Governor Bill Haslam to improve court security across Tennessee. The past year…
The Trial Court Vacancy Commission met today Thursday, September 14, 2017, to consider seven applicants for the Criminal Court vacancy in the 20th Judicial District – Davidson County. The vacancy was created by The Honorable J. Randall Wyatt, Jr. who informed the Governor he would retire effective…
Judge Timothy R. Brock of Coffee County was awarded the McCain-Abernathy Award by the Tennessee Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (TCJFCJ) for his exceptional service in advancing juvenile justice. The award is given annually to a judge with juvenile court jurisdiction who demonstrated…
Jason Ray brought a lawsuit in federal court in West Tennessee seeking money damages for an alleged violation of his civil rights. Mr. Ray pled guilty in 2013 to theft of property over $60,000 and received a sentence of ten years, with eleven months and twenty-nine days to be served in the…
The Trial Court Vacancy Commission is accepting applications for the Circuit Court judge vacancy in the 17th Judicial District – Bedford, Lincoln, Marshall, and Moore Counties. The 17th District Circuit Court vacancy was created when the Honorable Lee Russell announced he will retire effective…