News
January 16, 2015
The Tennessee Supreme Court has unanimously upheld the murder conviction and life sentence of a man who shot his wife at a gas station in Chattanooga in 1994.In March 1994, Edward Kendrick shot and killed his estranged wife, Lisa Kendrick, at the gas station where she worked. He fled the scene,…
January 28, 2015
The Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments is now accepting applications for the Circuit Court Judge vacancy in the 3rd Judicial District – Greene, Hamblen, Hancock, and Hawkins counties. The vacancy has been created by the death of the Honorable Michael Faulk, who died in November.Any…
January 14, 2015
The Tennessee Association of Drug Court Professionals honored retired Circuit Court Judge Robert E. Burch for his 14 years of service to drug courts. The award was presented at the group's annual conference.For more, read the story in…
January 13, 2015
The Tennessee Supreme Court today ruled that a successor judge who takes over a case from the judge that presided over the trial, may act as the “13th juror” in a case. In its ruling, the Court created a rebuttable presumption, which means that it is assumed the judge can act as a 13th juror…
January 12, 2015
Gov. Bill Haslam administered the formal oath of office to Court of Criminal Appeals judges Timothy Easter, of Brentwood, and Robert Holloway, Jr., of Columbia on January 12, 2015. Both joined the court on September 1, 2014 after receiving appointments from the Governor earlier last year.…
January 7, 2015
See photos from the SCALES (Supreme Court Advancing Legal Education for Students) event in Greeneville on Wednesday, January 7.
January 6, 2015
Greeneville, Tenn. – The Tennessee Supreme Court will bring oral arguments to Niswonger Performing Arts Center next week as part of the Court’s SCALES program, as high school students from four counties get a personal look at how the Court operates.High school students from eleven area schools are…
Supreme Court Announces Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate to Lead Administrative Office of the Courts
January 2, 2015
The Tennessee Supreme Court announced today that Nashville attorney and former Federal Communications Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate will become Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts.“Commissioner Tate’s wealth of experience in law and policy at every level of government and across…
December 30, 2014
The Tennessee Supreme Court has unanimously affirmed a 45-day suspension of Knoxville attorney Thomas F. Mabry.In 2011, the Board of Professional Responsibility filed a petition for discipline against Mr. Mabry based on three complaints of misconduct. The petition alleged, among other things, that…
December 19, 2014
In a unanimous opinion, the Tennessee Supreme Court has decided that hospitals are required to release their hospital lien against a patient as soon as the patient and the patient’s insurance company have paid the full amount of the hospital charges.This lawsuit involves a common practice in the…
December 18, 2014
The Tennessee Supreme Court has determined that a Hamilton County trial court did not depart from accepted and usual judicial course during a health care liability lawsuit as to require immediate appellate court review.In February 2011, C.L. Gilbert, Jr. filed a complaint against Dr. Izak Frederick…
December 16, 2014
Comprehensive changes to continuing education requirements for attorneys in Tennessee will go into effect January 1, 2015. In an order filed December 16, the Court overhauls Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 21, making the most significant changes since the Rule was adopted in 1986.The amended Rule…
December 4, 2014
The Tennessee Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on December 18 in Nashville in an appeal by the State opposing the requests of several death row inmates who are seeking the identity of individuals involved in the lethal injection process.The appeal arises from a challenge to the…
December 2, 2014
The Tennessee Supreme Court has determined that Tennessee Human Rights Act claims against local governmental entities are not governed by the Governmental Tort Liability Act (“GTLA”). The Court has also determined that Rights Act claims filed in chancery court include a statutory right to trial by…
December 1, 2014
The Tennessee Supreme Court has ruled that the State will be allowed to introduce evidence of a child victim’s recorded video statement during the prosecution of the defendant for seven counts of rape.In 2010, the defendant, Barry McCoy, was indicted for seven counts of rape of a child. Prior to…
November 25, 2014
A study commissioned by the Tennessee Supreme Court Access to Justice (ATJ) Commission and the Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services (TALS) with the support of the Tennessee Bar Association has found that more than 60 percent of vulnerable Tennesseans face a significant civil legal need.The goal of…
November 19, 2014
The Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education and Specialization has awarded more than $100,000 in grants to support Access to Justice initiatives in the state.The grants will extend by one year each the pro bono coordinator position and the aLEGALz project.“Encouraging lawyers to give…
November 18, 2014
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam Monday appointed J. Russell Parkes of Columbia as Circuit Court Judge for the 22nd Judicial District.Parkes replaces Judge Robert L. Holloway, Jr., who took a seat on the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals in September. The 22nd Judicial District includes Giles, Lawrence…
November 17, 2014
The Tennessee Supreme Court has upheld a death row inmate’s conviction for first degree murder. However, it has ordered a new sentencing hearing because the lawyers representing the man at trial did not properly represent him.Jerry Ray Davidson was convicted of the 1995 murder of Virginia Jackson…
November 14, 2014
The Tennessee Supreme Court has denied a new murder trial to Clarence Nesbit, who has been on death row since 1995. The Court was unanimous in its finding that Nesbit failed to prove the performance of his lawyer affected the outcome of his murder case.On May 20, 1993, Nesbit shot and killed 20-…