News
January 6, 2017
The Tennessee Supreme Court will hear four cases on January 10, 2017 in Knoxville, TN. The details of the cases are as follows: Judith Moore-Pennoyer v. State of Tennessee, et al.– In this employment case, the Supreme Court will consider whether a person who has prevailed in a judicial election,…
December 30, 2016
The Tennessee Supreme Court has adopted a set of plain-language forms and instructions for use in uncontested divorces between parties with minor children in an effort to simplify divorce proceedings for parties that fall into that category. The forms will become effective January 1, 2017.The…
December 30, 2016
The Tennessee Supreme Court has clarified that the criminal offense of stalking, as defined under Tennessee law, contains both an objective element and a subjective element of significant mental suffering or distress that must be met to sustain a conviction. The Court emphasized that the State…
December 30, 2016
The Tennessee Supreme Court has ruled that application of the Exclusionary Rule Reform Act (“ERRA”), Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-6-108(a), to cases in which the evidence was seized prior to the statute’s enactment does not violate the constitutional prohibition against ex post facto laws. Ex post facto…
January 12, 2018
The Administrative Office of the Courts, and state offices in West and Middle Tennessee, are closed Friday, January 12, 2018 because of hazardous weather and travel conditions. This includes the Jackson and Nashville offices of the Appellate Court Clerk and many other state courts. Read about other…
December 22, 2016
The Tennessee Supreme Court has ruled that the seller of an automated external defibrillator (AED) is not liable either to a woman whose husband died after collapsing at a church fitness center or to the church that purchased the AED.Sandra L. Wallis’s husband collapsed after participating in a…
December 22, 2016
The Memphis Bar Association hosted its inaugural Expungement Clinic and Resource Fair in Shelby County on Saturday, December 10, 2016. The event was held at The Healing Center Full Gospel Baptist Church in partnership with the Access to Justice Commission’s Tennessee Faith & Justice Alliance.…
December 20, 2016
Pro Bono attorney volunteers from East Tennessee and law school student volunteers participated in a free legal clinic in Gatlinburg, Tenn. on Monday, December 19, 2016, providing legal advice to those devastated by the Gatlinburg wildfires.
Legal Aid of East Tennessee, the Sevier County Bar…
December 19, 2016
The Tennessee Supreme Court has affirmed the convictions and sentences of death for Lemaricus Devall Davidson for the murders of Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom in Knoxville.In January 2007, Mr. Davidson and others abducted Ms. Christian and Mr. Newsom outside of an apartment complex in…
December 15, 2016
Several Tennessee judges were honored at the Nashville Bar Association’s 2016 Annual Meeting and Banquet on Thursday, December 8, 2016.
Judge Joe Binkley received the President’s Award for his outstanding contributions to the Nashville Bar Association.
Judge Philip Smith and Judge Phillip…
December 14, 2016
Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 13 authorizes the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) to enter into contracts for representation of indigent persons by attorneys working on various types of cases, including representation of indigent respondents facing involuntary emergency judicial…
December 13, 2016
On Friday, December 2, the Administrative Office of the Courts held a regional meeting in Jackson, Tenn. focused on the Court Interpreter Credentialing Program. Participants learned the procedure for becoming a credentialed court interpreter in Tennessee and the growing need for court interpreters…
December 13, 2016
The Supreme Court honored Attorneys for Justice in the Tri-Cities and Memphis this week as part of its pro bono recognition program. Attorneys from East Tennessee were recognized by Chief Justice Jeffrey Bivins as part of Legal Aid of East Tennessee’s (LAET) “Celebrate Pro Bono Dinner” on Monday,…
December 12, 2016
Lane College, in Jackson, Tennessee will be the site of the November 2017 Supreme Court Advancing Legal Education for Students (SCALES) project.Lane College, founded in 1882 by one of the nation’s early African American church denominations, is a small, private, co-educational institution that…
December 8, 2016
Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Cornelia Clark was the keynote speaker at the Tennessee Association of Drug Court Professionals Conference in Chattanooga, being held December 7-9.Justice Clark noted many highlights in the last four years of the program, including the name change from drug court to…
December 6, 2016
From Chattanoogan.comChattanooga will host the Tennessee Association of Drug Court Professionals conference on Dec. 7-9 at the Chattanooga Convention Center."TN Drug Courts…
December 1, 2016
The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) announced today that Jill G. Frost, Nashville attorney and former American Red Cross spokesperson, will serve as Director of Communications for the statewide court system beginning December 1, 2016. One of Frost’s primary responsibilities will be…
November 30, 2016
From the The TennesseanThe Department of Children's Services is edging closer to operating independently for the first time in 15 years, without the federal…
November 29, 2016
From the Knoxville News SentinelKnoxville County Juvenile Court Judge Tim Irwin presides over more terminations of parental rights cases than any other judge in Tennessee.…
November 28, 2016
From WBIR.comSome East Tennessee children will be celebrating the holidays with the best present of all this year – a new family and a place to call home.National Adoption Day is held…