News
August 29, 2023
The Tennessee Supreme Court has appointed former Judge Vanessa Agee Jackson as a senior judge for a term of four years, effective September 1, 2023. Judge Jackson previously was a circuit court judge in the 14th Judicial District, which includes Coffee County, from 2009 to 2022. In that position,…
August 28, 2023
Hero. Down to earth. Humble. Trailblazer. Encourager. Courageous. Friend.
Those were some of the words used to describe Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Sharon G. Lee at her portrait unveiling at the Knoxville Supreme Court Building on August 24. The event, sponsored by the Knoxville Bar…
August 24, 2023
The Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts will livestream the portrait unveiling and retirement celebration of Justice Sharon G. Lee on August 24 at 3 p.m. EDT/2 p.m. CDT from the Knoxville Supreme Court Building. Justice Lee is set to retire on August 31. She has served as a Tennessee…
August 16, 2023
The Board of Judicial Conduct has issued an interim suspension for Hawkins County Juvenile Judge Daniel Boyd.
See the suspension here.
August 8, 2023
The Board of Judicial Conduct issued a Public Reprimand for Judge James Jones, Jr. Read the Public Reprimand here.
August 7, 2023
The Board of Judicial Conduct has issued a Public Reprimand for 30th Judicial District (Shelby County) Judge James Jones, Jr. Read the reprimand here.
July 26, 2023
The Trial Court Vacancy Commission will consider four applicants when it meets on August 31 in Franklin to select nominees for a circuit court judge vacancy in the 21st Judicial District, which includes Williamson County. This vacancy will be created by the upcoming retirement of Judge Michael W.…
July 26, 2023
The Trial Court Vacancy Commission will consider five applicants when it meets on August 30 in Murfreesboro to select nominees for a circuit court judge vacancy in the 16th Judicial District, which includes Rutherford and Cannon Counties. This vacancy will be created by the upcoming retirement of…
July 20, 2023
The Tennessee Supreme Court issued opinions today in two cases asserting claims under the Health Care Liability Act. In both opinions, the Court held that the plaintiffs could proceed with their vicarious liability claims against the defendant hospitals, which were timely filed, even though the…
July 18, 2023
The Trial Court Vacancy Commission met today, July 18, in Crossville to select nominees for a criminal court judge vacancy in the 13th judicial district, which includes Clay, Cumberland, DeKalb, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, and White counties.. The new judicial position was created by the…
July 14, 2023
The Tennessee Supreme Court today held that the criminal gang-enhancement statute, Tennessee Code Annotated section 40-35-121, is worded broadly and does not require the State to specify in the indictment a criminal defendant’s gang subset. The statute also does not require the indictment to set…
July 12, 2023
The Trial Court Vacancy Commission met today, July 12, in Clarksville to select nominees for a circuit court judge vacancy in the 19th judicial district, which covers Montgomery and Robertson Counties. The new judicial position was created by the Tennessee General Assembly through Public…
July 11, 2023
The Tennessee Supreme Court has suspended Shelby County attorney Gerald D. Waggoner, Jr. from the practice of law in Tennessee for two years for violating disciplinary rules.
In 2017, the Tennessee Supreme Court suspended Mr. Waggoner for three years from the practice of law for removing client…
July 7, 2023
The Tennessee Supreme Court issued an opinion today holding that Supreme Court Rule 13, which provides the procedure for administering funds appropriated by the Tennessee Legislature for assisting indigent litigants in capital cases, was constitutionally applied in the State’s case against Jessie…
July 6, 2023
The Trial Court Vacancy Commission is accepting applications for a Circuit Court Judge in the Twenty-First Judicial District, which covers Williamson County. This vacancy will be created by the upcoming retirement of Judge Michael W. Binkley on September 29, 2023.
Qualified applicants must be…
July 6, 2023
The Trial Court Vacancy Commission is accepting applications for a Circuit Court Judge in the Sixteenth Judicial District, which covers Rutherford and Cannon Counties. This vacancy will be created by the upcoming retirement of Judge J. Mark Rogers on September 1, 2023.
Qualified applicants must be…
June 30, 2023
Today, the Tennessee Supreme Court affirmed the suspension of Sevier County attorney James Ralph Hickman, Jr. from the practice of law in the State but increased the length of his active suspension. A Hearing Panel of the Board of Professional Responsibility originally imposed a one-year suspension…
June 29, 2023
In an opinion released today, the Tennessee Supreme Court ruled that persons who lose the right to vote in Tennessee because of a criminal conviction in another state must comply with requirements set forth in two different Tennessee statutes, both of which address voting rights, in order to regain…
June 27, 2023
The Court of Criminal Appeals has elected Judge Camille R. McMullen as its Presiding Judge. She succeeds Judge Curwood Witt of Knoxville. Judge McMullen was appointed to the Court of Criminal Appeals by former Governor Phil Bredesen in 2008. She will become the first woman and the…
June 12, 2023
The Trial Court Vacancy Commission will consider three applicants when it meets on July 13 in Columbia to select nominees for a circuit court judge vacancy in the 22nd judicial district, which includes Giles, Lawrence, Maury and Wayne counties. The new judicial position was created by the…